Life With A Family

Foreign Movies

2012-01-10T17:42:00.002-05:00

I have always enjoyed movies and have watched many many movies. Movies are an escape for me on an individual basis. A way to get away from the crazy life that we live. As a family we have often gone to movies together and it has been a good activity for us.

Recently I have gotten into watch foreign films, especially martial arts films. I have to be honest I would rather read subtitles that watch a film dubbed in English. I have found that the quality of the movies is remarkable with excellent coordination in the action sequences and amazing story lines. Recently I watched a movie called Shaolin. It was excellent with a great story line and lots of great action.

I highly recommend you check it out.

Ten Apples Up on Top!

2011-11-29T21:43:00.001-05:00

It has been awhile since I posted but tonight after I got done reading a book with my son Colin who is in Kindergarten I thought I would sit down for a moment and share. Having four kids we have spent plenty of time with them over the years reading books, watching TV, playing games and so on. But one book that has consistently been read by with all of my kids is Ten Apples Up On Top!

I personally think all of the Dr. Seuss books are great but this one has only a 75 word vocabulary so is easy to work with beginning readers. If you have not read it with your kids I would strongly encourage you to invest in it. I has been one we have enjoyed for at least 10 years now.

New School

2011-11-08T11:36:00.001-05:00

Thanks for the post, Nora Howe

I’ve decided that I’m going to start sending my kid to a private school next year because I am getting fed up with the public school system in our town. I believe that my child is not getting the attention that she deserves and I know that by sending her to a private school she could get a better quality of education that would be based around sound moral teaching. Eventually, I hope that the public school system decides to start spending more money on our children’s education because I firmly believe that our kids are suffering. After I enroll my daughter at her new school I am going to start making some other changes around the house because I am sick of settling for things in my life. I am going to make some major upgrades to the back yard and the upstairs bedrooms. A friend of mine recently told me about dish packages now I know one more thing I will be upgrading.

Broadway with the bonus of Harry Potter

2011-08-24T20:03:00.000-04:00

Guest post written by Angela Clark

There's nothing like sitting down and forgetting about your cares for a few hours. But my all-time favorite way of doing that is with a Broadway play. Those just really take you away like a movie can't. You can't just kindly pause the actors and everyone else for you to take a phone call in the other room or watch the rest of it later. That's what I love plays so much more than any other form of entertainment. So once I started planning a trip for the fall to New York, I looked at the plays that are on Broadway now to plan which ones I'm going to see.

While I was online seeing which plays you can normally get discount tickets for, I ran across the site HEARINGAIDSBYMIRACLEEAR.com. I looked through it and after that I decided to get fitted with some hearing aids. I think that will help my Broadway show watching experience even more!

I really want to go and see Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I heard that it's an absolute delight and I love a good lighthearted musical.

New School Year

2011-08-07T22:36:00.001-04:00

It is hard to believe the summer is almost over and we are about to start another school year. The kids have had the chance this summer to swim, go to camp, play sports and video games and many other activities but in addition to that they have continued to learn by reading and practicing math skills by playing math games.

Between them they have read many books and their vocabulary is improving and they are reading faster and faster. They do a great job reading a variety of books and will continue to learn and improve their skills.

Another way that they have improved is by playing math games to improve their math skills. My son needed to work on his multiplication skills this summer but he he mastered his addition and subtraction last year. I am so proud of the work that he has done.

Preparing for a Road Trip

2011-06-30T08:31:00.000-04:00

So 4th of July weekend is coming up and my family will be hitting the highway on a road trip. If your family is like ours then it takes you time to prepare. What do you take with you on road trips? Here are some suggestions based on how we prepare.

Movies - with the modern family car having a DVD players available, choosing some movies that all kids will enjoy and agree on is important.
Snacks - unless you want to spend a fortune every time you stop for the restroom or gas you need to pack some mess free snacks.
Map or GPS - Depending on how technology focused you are grab your map or GPS so you don't get lost.
Luggage - pack light, it seems like half the time we don't use everything we take.
Clean the car - it always seems to go much smoother when we start with a clean car.

There are of course many other things that each individual items your family may need to take care of but hopefully this gives you a start.

What road trip tips do you have for others?

Weekly Money Check-Up

2011-06-29T14:40:00.001-04:00

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on gasoline since we had to drive to Maryland to drop my daughter off with her grandparents.

2. Today I am thankful for friendships that I have made over the past 14 years while working for my current employer.
3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was enjoying time watching a tv show and talking with my family.
4. I will consider this week a success if I don't spend any money that I don't absolutely need to spend.
5. For the 4th of July, I am taking the family to the Ocean City, Maryland

I found this great fill in the blank post at My Pretty Pennies, check it out if you want to participate.

Ways to Save on Household Expenses

2011-06-29T11:09:00.000-04:00

If your family is anything like ours it is important for you to save money on household expenses. This can include anything from groceries, cleaning supplies, paper, printing supplies and others. We are always looking for ways to cut these expenses.

Some things to consider:

Use coupons for grocery and cleaning expenses, this can save you substantial amounts of money.
Shop the internet for the best deals on other household items.
Use an app for your smartphone that helps you find the best deals.
Use coupon codes on internet sights to save money.

Good Luck saving lots of money.

Summer Activities on a Budget

2011-06-24T07:54:00.002-04:00

With the economy in the shape it has been over the past couple of years it is important with summer upon us that families are creative in the way in which we tackle summer break activities. Being a family of six it definitely can be costly to do certain activities as a family. Here are some ideas that we have explored to reduce the costs of our activities during the summer.

Check out your local movie theatres for summer promotions, many offer reduced or free summer programs.
Explore the nature parks and playgrounds in your area, mixing it up will keep it exciting for the kids.
Buy a small pool, or sprinkler to keep the kids entertained at home on the hot days.
Use coupons to get the best deals for activities and eating out.

I know that this may take some work on your end as the parent but keeping the kids busy in the summer will benefit you in the long run.

Low Country Boil In a Box

2011-06-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

I have a lot of respect for people that can cook, I also respect people that have the guts to follow their passion. A friend of mine Allen Clark fits into both categories and has followed his passion to start his own business called Low Country Boil in Box. I have to say it is an intersting concept and if you enjoy a good Low Country Boil you definately need to stop by his website. What is a Low Country Boil? I knew you might ask that... from Allen's website the definition is this a Low Country Boil is a quick and hearty one-pot meal consisting of cob corn, red potatoes, kielbasa sausage and big ole shrimp,

Sounds pretty yummy to me...

Our Family's Five Favorite Foods to Cook on the Grill

2011-06-21T10:30:00.002-04:00

In the midst of summer, everyone like to cook on the grill. Our family is no different. In fact we love to cook on the grill, the taste is great and clean up is much easier. I have put together a list of our favorite foods to cook on the grill.

Burgers - I love a good cheeseburger
Hot Dogs - Good quality hot dogs on the grill can't be beat.
Chicken - We love chicken breast on the grill(none of that boneless stuff either)
Pork Chops - I like a nice think boneless pork chop on the grill.
Corn or Potatoes - Why not right?

If you are going to cook on the grill make sure you get some good BBQ sauce, our favorite is Sweet Baby Ray's

New Homeowner

2011-06-21T10:30:00.000-04:00

Contributed by Milford Woods

When I bought my first house last year, I was just overjoyed at the idea of owning my own home. Nothing had prepared me for how much work it would be to take care of such a place! I absolutely love not being a renter anymore, but things like homeowners insurance really add up over time. I've had to put a lot of money into the place for some small repairs and just getting a decorated the way I like, but I think I'm nearing completion. I recently did a home energy audit and decided I was paying too much for utilities so I looked up better rates at http://www.shopelectricityratestexas.com/texas-electricity-companies/Texas/C/Cisco/ and I finally feel like I got my feet back on the ground. Thankfully for me, my dad is a real estate agent, so he totally helped me avoid some of the pitfalls that come with being a first-time homeowner. I love my new place but it's a heck of a lot of work… More than I ever imagined owning a home would be!

5 Tips for Balancing Your Work and Home Life

2011-05-05T13:33:00.000-04:00

Work takes up a large amount of our daily lives, and on some days I spend more time with my co-workers than I do with my family. Which I am sorry to say isn't always a positive for me. As we think about the importance of having a job it is easy to fall into a routine where you are spending more and more time at work. Perhaps so that we can get that next promotion, make the next sale or meet our goals to get a bonus. Whatever the reason work can take away from time you could spend with your family. So what are some things that we can do to improve our work life balance? Here are a few tips based on things that I have tried:

Go into the office early - If you feel the need to work extra hours, try to do it in the morning rather than staying late. Hopefully this will help you to avoid missing those important family meals, activities and so on.
Have lunch with your wife - We have to eat right? Why not make it a time when you get away from your desk and get to see your wife. My wife and I meet on a pretty regular basis for lunch and I enjoy that time in the middle of my day.
Don't bring work home - I know this may not be the easiest but I really try not to bring work home in the evenings or on weekends and if I do I reserve it for when the kids and my wife are asleep or have other plans.
Turn off the work cell - Smart phones as convenient as they can be for your professional career can be very intrusive into the home life. Don't be someone that is checking email at the dinner table or in the middle of a conversation with your wife and kids.
Manage your time wisely - Both at work and at home it is important to effectively manage your time. Make sure you are getting to the priority tasks and events both at home and work. Maybe a list of things you need to do will help, or using a day planner for both work and home.

Balancing your work and home life is not easy, but it is important. As parents and spouses we need our families to know that they are important to us, and that often comes in the form of time, don't be absent from your home life. The health effects can't be ignored either, I am not a doctor but increased stress from poor work and home life balance can have a negative effect on you.

What ways to you balance your work and home life? Would love to hear input from

Easy Ways to Spend Time Talking as a Family

2011-05-04T19:45:00.001-04:00

Families are full of busy people. Parents and kids alike are busy, between work and school and the multitude of activities that families are involved in. It is hard to find easy ways to spend time talking as a family. I guess a key point is that you have to think about what the definition of time is. Are we talking about sitting in front of the TV, no not really. I remember I used to say let's spend some time together and watch a movie. I guess I never really thought about the fact that you don't talk much during a movie, so is there isn't any interaction between family members. So here are a couple of tips:

Eat together - we try to have dinner together as a family every evening. This is a great time to talk about the day, school, work, activities and plans for the next day. Another benefit is that it is a lot cheaper to at home that on the run between some activities.
Turn the TV off, so many times the TV is on and no one is watching it. It is a distracting background noise that makes it difficult to have good conversations. Turn it off and have a good conversation
Play a board game as a family - what a great way to get everyone involved and have fun and talk.

I am not suggesting that it is always easy to carve out time to do any of these things, however as parents we need to build strong links with our kids. They are going to hit some heavy stuff by teenage years and it would be a shame if they didn't know how to talk to us.

Best Things about Fenway Park

2011-05-03T14:07:00.001-04:00

So this weekend my son and i took a trip to Boston to attend a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. I hadn't been since I was a young child. I always had fond memories of Fenway and of course am a Red Sox fan. But this morning I got to thinking and asking myself why is Fenway so great? What are the best things about Fenway Park. A list started to form pretty quickly:

The history of Fenway Park, sure it is nice to see a ball game in a new stadium but there is something special when you are sitting in a stadium that has been visited by generations of your family.
The Green Monster which adds so much to the game. I love watching outfielders try to play the ball off the wall.
The Fans - say what you will but there is a certain passion to Red Sox fans. Many of us have been fans even when the team was horrible that brings with it a deep seeded passion.

This was just the first few that I thought of and I am sure others could add more. While I was watching batting practice with my son, I heard a woman telling her son, when I was a little girl my dad would bring me to the game and we would sit out in the bleachers for $.50.

Longevity, that is one of the best things about Fenway Park.

Preparing for a Fenway Park Visit

2011-04-28T10:29:00.000-04:00

As the weekend quickly approaches I am getting more and more excited about the trip my son and are taking this weekend to Boston to visit Fenway Park and watch the Red Sox play. Growing up in Maine I have always been a Red Sox fan, even in the bad times. I dont know if I remember exactly the last time I got to see them play at Fenway, but I am very excited to be able to experience that with my son. He has seen the Red Sox play before but never at Fenway. He will also get his first plane trip this weekend so it should be pretty memorable for him.

I am thankful that I have the means to make this trip happen but I also realize that I can make memborable moments happen close to home as well. So please consider how you can make positive memories with your kids

Thankful to Be Safe

2011-04-28T09:06:00.001-04:00

My heart breaks for all those that were effected in a way much worse than what my family and I experienced last night with all the storms and tornadoes. It is hard to put into words the fear and all the other emotions that go through your mind on a night like last night.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/28/severe.weather/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

Tips for Parents of Baseball Players

2011-04-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

I was at the baseball field the other day and realized how many parents bring a negative vibe to the ball field when they bring their children. It is our responsibility just as much as the coaches to teach our kids some of the valuable lessons that they can get from being a youth athlete. Here is a short list of items to consider:

Be positive- words of encouragement for your child and the other children on the team should be your priority. I do not believe that winning is everything but to a kid it is important, however we can be positive even in defeat.
Help your kids practice, teach them that sports take dedication. They should be trying to improve their skills at home just as much as they do on the ball field.
Thank your coaches, especially if you are playing in a recreation league where they don't get paid to coach your kids.

Organized sports can teach your children important lessons, so hopefully you will consider this short list of tips for parents of baseball players or really players of any sport.

Even if you know nothing about sports you can teach your child about having good sportsmanship, a positive attitude and leadership.

Three Inexpensive Activites for the Family

2011-04-25T16:01:00.001-04:00

With gas prices continuing to rise and the general state of the economy it seems like everyone is cutting back and watching what they spend money on. I know that we have tried to cut back but of course we still want to get out for some good family activities with the family. Going to the movies, our dinner or something like that may not be in your budget so here are some suggestions for three inexpensive activities for the family at low to no cost for you and your family.

Visit the local playgrounds, check out the playgrounds at schools and parks in your area. Make a big deal about going to some that you have never been to before.
Go to the local nature park and take a family walk. Make sure to spend time talking about plants, birds, animals, insects or other interesting topics for discussion.
Find a baseball field and play baseball, softball or kickball. Not only is this inexpensive but it is good exercise too.

Would love to hear any other inexpensive activities that you can think of as well.

5 Easy Ways to Show Your Wife You Love Her

2011-04-22T09:21:00.001-04:00

Guys sometimes just need a little help. Myself being included in that very general statement of course. After 10 years of marriage I have realized that I am not always very good at showing my wife how much I love and appreciate her. So here are a few ideas, most of which are not elaborate that any man can easily accomlish. Take a look at the list and let me know if you have any ideas of your own.

Help out around the house with the basic chores like helping to do the dishes, laundry or vacuum. I know it doesn't seem like a lot but basically if you help she has more time to do the things that she enjoys.
Have a date night, and I don't mean run errands which is what my wife and I always seem to do when we get out without the kids. Go some place where you can have an adult conversation and enjoy each other.
Send her flowers just to let her know you are thinking of her.
Listen - all to often as men we don't listen very well.
Tell her you love her. Are you one of those guys that don't express your feelings very well? Get over it and tell her.

I am sure there are many other more elaborate ways to show your wife you love her, but hey we are guys so let's keep it simple at first and we can work our way up to the complex stuff.

Check Your Child's Internet History

2011-04-21T12:38:00.000-04:00

We all like to think that our kids will always make the best choices. The internet however can be a scary place, there are many sites that are not appropriate for our young children. Even though I have parental controls on our computer I still make it a practice to check the browsing history on our computer. Kids are curious especially boys that are hitting puberty. Even if your parental controls are blocking sites that they may try to visit you knowing and understanding what your child might be trying to view is important.

My advice however goes beyond just checking the browsing history. Knowing where they have been on the internet but you also need to be comfortable to talk with them about it. You need to explain your value system and make sure they understand the implications and consequences of visiting sites that you feel are inappropriate. Be honest and open with your kids but be clear about what your expectations are.

Monitor Facebook Activity of your Children

2011-04-20T10:57:00.000-04:00

This past week has been interesting at our house. I realized I had not been doing a complete job of monitoring facebook activity of my children. What does it take to monitor facebook of your child? Is it enough to be friends with them on Facebook. The answer to that question is absolutely not, if you are only looking at your childs wall you are not getting a full picture of their activity. Here are a couple easy tips to monitoring their activity:

Have your child's password, your ability to log on with your child's login information is critical.
Know your child's friends, and check out the information that they post. It is amazing what you can learn about your child and friends.
Don't assume that your child is making good choices.

We love our kids and want to keep them safe and no matter how much love we give them they can still make mistakes, which of course is part of growing up.

Dessert With My Daughter

2011-04-19T14:33:00.001-04:00

Post contributed by Hilton Miranda

I've always had a sweet tooth. The idea of a gooey, sugary treat can get me through the day, and has gotten me through some really tough situations. Unfortunately, now that I'm an adult, I don't get to indulge my sweet tooth as much as I did when I was a child or teenager.

One of the upsides of being a mom is getting to taste new sweet treats with my child. Though I'm very careful to make sure my daughter is getting the proper nutrition, I also want to make sure sugar isn't considered a taboo. This way, she'll know that it's okay in moderation. One way I do this is by having a weekly dessert date with her.
Every Friday evening, my daughter and I get our things, set our home security system (Security Companies), and go out in search of a delicious dessert. We try a new place each time. So far, we've had dessert at small local bakeries, national coffeehouse chains, and once from a street corner ice cream vendor. Each time, we sit and talk about the week and things we'd like to do during the weekend.
I hope to keep this tradition going as my daughter gets older. Even as a young child, she's very clever and has some marvelous ideas; I can hardly wait to see how she grows up.

Being a Fan

2011-04-19T11:49:00.000-04:00

As I have written about before I am a sports fan, and have grown up cheering for the Boston Red Sox, even during the years before the broke the "curse". Perhaps that is why I still wear my Red Sox gear with pride even though we have started off this season a little rough. I'll continue to cheer for them and be a loyal fan. Are you loyal when times get tough and I am not just talking about sports but maybe this needs to extend to the way we live our lives everyday. It is one thing to cheer for a sports team even when they don't win a game, but do you cheer for your kids, spouse, family and friends when things aren't going so well. I don't know if I always do.

I will continue to cheer for the Red Sox, and am really thinking that I should be a better fan and supporter to those that mean the most to me.

Guy's Weekend

2011-04-18T13:38:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I went away with three friends for a few days. For those us of with kids and families and all the activities that go along with being a parent it is not always easy to make the time. I it nice to have a group of friends that you can not only laugh with but that you can rely on to talk about the serious stuff that weighs heavily on a Dad's mind. Life with a family is complicated and you can't go through that without a group of friends to support you. Enjoy some time away and invest in yourself so that you can be a better parent and spouse, but don't forget that your spouse needs that same time and you need to be willing to provide that support.