As you can imagine, this summer has been a little on the chaotic side for our family. Between flying straight to Vegas from vacation in the Outer Banks, to three weeks living with Bart’s sister, then six weeks with my parents, and now six weeks in Arizona, it’s definitely had a touch of the crazy.
Bart and I have made major efforts to keep the girls’ lives as calm and regular as possible during this time so that they don’t feel totally unmoored. They have regular nap and quiet times every afternoon, and they are in bed at 7 on the dot pretty much every night. We go to church on Sunday, visit the library and IKEA weekly, and have regular meals as a family.
And we also reinstated Friday Movie Nights once we were all back in the same house.
In my usual fashion, we’ve kept things very simple. I know myself well enough to realize that if I make it complicated, I’ll just quit, so it’s pretty streamlined.
We have (homemade) pizza for dinner, and then we have (not homemade) ice cream while we watch our movie.
Just before seven, we pause the movie, get both girls completely ready for bed and put Ani down. Then we finish the movie with Ella and she goes immediately to bed once the movie is finished (since she basically never stays up late, even by 7:45, she’s usually asking “how long until this movie is done?”).
Sometimes, if I’m feeling very nice (or I want to get things rolling earlier), we’ll let the girls eat on a picnic blanket and start the movie during dinner instead of waiting until after.
. . . a Poloraid camera with film, and a puzzle, a bottle, a book, a changing pad and the biggest box of styrofoam peanuts you’ve ever seen.
Pampers is giving away another identical gift basket with all those goodies to one reader. Yippee! (Also, save the box and peanuts – my girls have been playing in it daily for two weeks. We may be a little starved for toys around here).
Shelby says
Pancakes (or waffles) on the weekends.
Stephanie says
Special breakfasts on the weekends. My boys get to pick a new recipe every week.
Meg ~ Chasing Pink Fireflies says
Story time at night!
Emily says
Bathtime (my husband bathes the kids, and I love to eavesdrop on their conversation) and then bedtime (we all chat about our day and our plans for the next day)
Kerry says
Our tradition is grilled cheese sandwiches for Sunday supper. 🙂
Paige Flamm says
Kyle thrives on his morning routine- wake up, have a fruit pouch, and then a bottle (I'm supposed to wean him off those before kindergarten right?), and then a bowl of cheerios, everyday like clock work!
SS says
Friday night pizza night is our family tradition, too. Yay for Friday!
Elaine says
I can't believe they still make Polaroid cameras with FILM, especially! I'd really like to win the basket for A Baby Center, a local charity that gives diapers and other necessities to needy families.
Caitlyn says
Stories before bed!
Amy says
Sunday evening dessert and bike rides!
SB says
Reading books before bed!
Kristin @ Going Country says
Sunday is Family Fun Day. This usually involves going to the woods somewhere to let my feral sons (and husband) loose in their natural environment. Movie nights would never fly at our house, sadly. I'm the only one who will sit still for one.
runtspickins says
Hi! I have a quick question if you don't mind… I tried sending you an email but not luck, so maybe I'll have better luck here lol anyway, what types of books do you recommend for infants? My little guy is seven months old and I want to start reading to him, but I feel silly, like he's too young to pay attention so why read to him? Is there a certain time? Is he too young right now? What kinds of books do you recommend? Should I be looking at board books, things with textures, things that make crinkly sounds? Sorry for all the questions but I thought you would be the right person to ask.
Runt
runtspickins@yahoo.com
http://www.runtspickins.wordpress.com
(If responding, please email or comment a blog post of mine.)
Alison Pisasale says
Friday night playtime with cousins!
Michelle says
We sing the BYU fight song every week at FHE–indoctrinating them young!
Christine Whetstine says
Reading together before bed.
Natalie says
I get to sleep in on Saturdays while my husband gets up with our 8-month baby. Best "tradition" ever.
Also, we play bingo after thanksgiving dinner with really goofy silly prizes. It's a blast!
Christine Boatwright says
My husband and I always go to bed at the same time. It's not super exciting, but it keeps our schedules on the same page!
Ashley says
GREAT giveaway!! We also *try* to have family movie nights every week. I love them.
Brooke says
Love this giveaway!
Sister Sara says
Love this giveaway – Family movie nights are the best – but now that our kids range in age from 8-18 months – finding one movie that EVERYONE agrees on can be tougher! 🙂
blaine and michelle says
My favorite family routine is our Sunday barbecue. My husband has been perfecting his burger patty recipe for years and he loves trying new things with it. Plus, it's the only time he ever cooks and I love that I don't have to plan anything or work very hard on Sunday, just slice up some fruit or throw a side dish together, or maybe make homemade buns if I'm feeling adventurous. We grill all year long, even in the deep freeze of winter. Our kids love it almost as much as we do and I don't think they would know what to do with themselves if we ever ate something else for Sunday dinner.
Sarah says
In the fall/winter, we also do family movie night and my boys love it! Another family routine is game night with board / card games.
KT says
We spend the 20 minutes (or more!) leading up to quiet time reading stories, and I love it. We also have a pretty simple FHE routine (read a chapter from the comic book scriptures, sing a song, play a game) that the boy is so enthusiastic about that I have to enjoy it too.
Betsy says
I have that same problem with ice cream scoops — the scoop just doesn't stand up to the ice cream!
Maradean says
We have a Saturday afternoon movie tradition that my girls (and us) love!
Sherry says
I love the idea of having the same food one day each week (Taco Tuesday or whatever), but I just can't think of anything that I want to eat that regularly. Even pizza.
melbh4284 says
watching movies on netflix!
Sydney says
We also do homemade pizza and movie nights. In the summer, I give my kids long naps and let them stay up late enough to watch the movie on the projector outside in the backyard. It's like camping… Only more glamorous.
Kelsey says
Good timing for you for that gift basket!! I got really excited about possibly implementing this tradition (pizza, ice cream, and movies are basically the holy trinity of activities), but then I remembered Fuqua Friday. Maybe a Saturday night tradition then 🙂
Patrick&Selena Pallas says
We do Friday night movie night too! Also with homemade pizza! My kids love it, to quell the fighting, each member of our family has a Friday to pick out whatever (kid friendly) movie they'd like to watch. If it's a special request we go to the library and see if we can find it. Tonight Belle and the Enchanted Christmas (my Tessa has been asking to watch this for months and we finally got it at the library, who care that's it's the middle of the summer!)
Lisa Marie says
Watching movies together!
kidsinthestacks says
Reading about 20 books before bedtime 🙂
Jessica Pearson says
My favorite routine is making a good breakfast with the works on Saturday mornings.
Rachel says
Going for a walk through the neighborhood after dinner. Wears my son out and gets us all a little exercise 🙂
Kayla FrecklesinApril says
We really are quite good at having dinner together most nights. I love that we've done so well with that!
mel says
We always eat dinner together as a family, it makes such a difference!
craftyashley says
Ella has the best facial expressions, bar none.
We've always had pizza & garlic bread Saturdays. Lately we've been adding a viewing of the old Next Generation Star Trek episodes into the mix. In an effort to nerdify our children. It is so awesomely nostalgic as some of my best memories are watching that show with my dad.
ellen says
Well, it's just me here, but one of my routines is I like to have people over for dinner on Sunday nights. (I hope I win — I want that camera!!!).
Nicole says
We end our weekend with a standing date with friends for dinner, it's a nice low key way to round out busy weekends and get the week off to a good start.
Katie F says
We have a weekly pizza night at one of our local pizza joints. My husband did this with his Dad growing up and we started as soon as we had kids!
Amanda says
Weekly movie night. I'm going to follow your lead though and start the movie during dinner. Sometimes it goes a little later than this tired mommy wants.
Megan says
On Sunday afternoons, my husband plays primary songs on his guitar and we all sing 🙂 on days that aren't Sunday we put "rockin'" songs on and have dance parties 🙂
Jenny Ice says
The library weekly to get new books!
Miranda says
I love the idea of pizza and movies on Friday nights. We do a big breakfast on Sundays and then head to the farmer's market.
Kathleen says
We do Thursday night breakfast for dinner, and Friday night dinner with my parents! I loooove the movie night idea though. Actually I think we need to start that ASAP!
Virginia Prescott says
I love our nightly routine of kisses and reading stories right before bed. It is always a great end to the day.
Lindsay says
I love that every night, after family prayer, we all put our hands in the middle for a cheer and then have a big group hug. This is followed by everyone giving hugs and kisses and saying "I love you" to each person of our family. It's amazing how much it can bring little boys together after a day of craziness and some occasional fighting.
julieupstairs says
Have you ever posted a recipe for your homemade pizza? It looks absolutely delicious!!
Mrs Gray says
We pretty well have our afternoon and evening routine set. We love when Daddy gets home!
Jennie says
Oh, we need to start this! And what a wonderful giveaway.
Mrs. Z says
Dinner out on Friday nights, great way to kickoff the weekend!
Janelle says
Yep, pizza fridays. Though I should jump on the ice cream bandwagon. We're not that consistent in our ice cream eating. A fact which should be immediately remedied. (Also, it looks like you could use a new ice cream scoop.)
Dusty says
We have "Fun Food Friday". We are gluten free and dairy free (not by choice).On Fridays, we make our own versions of all the naughty food. This way, we still get to enjoy all the yumminess and don't feel like we are missing out.
Landen says
I can actually use these things now! Hooray for baby giveaways!
wifeplusmum.com says
We try to plan family trips or just hang out at home on weekends. During the summer its usually boating, fishing or swimming and then winter time we do movies and games with homemade hot cocoa and a fire in the fireplace.
Whitney says
We try to have homemade pizza every Friday!
Andrea Smith says
Curious to know what designs you picked? Love picnic stuff, what a fun giveaway! Your girls are going to have so many fun memories! Love movie nights and homemade pizza! I still can't believe you get your girls down at 7?! I wish!!
Kara K says
Brunch on Saturdays and popcorn & apples for supper on Sunday night (momma is pooped!)
Janet says
Ani's hair is just divine! I love it!
And I'm loyal to pampers sensitive wipes. As well as homemade pizza.
kellyr78 says
My favorite routine is watching a family movie at 7pm most nights before my kids go to sleep.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
Lonica says
It was good to see you st ikea on tuesday. For the record, you cam get a refund on your plant, if it dies, just bring in the original receipt!
Brit says
We like to have family movie night on Fridays as well. We typically allow the blanket for dinner but find ourselves needing to stop the movie from time to time to remind our little girl that she needs to eat. Fun times.
Christa says
We have themed meal nights everyday of the week. Friday is pizza night for us too.
Ali says
Bums and bottles…the essence of early mothering 🙂
Caitlin says
We have a weekly pizza night too! Usually on Saturdays though!
Valerie says
We have routines, more than traditions…but a weekly family movie night sounds brilliant.
Patterson's says
When my baby is older we hope to have family movie nights and maybe family game nights, too.
Tracey says
One of our favorite family routines is brinner on Thursday night. Super easy and helps usher in the weekend!
Lea Anna says
We tend to do pizza and a movie nights too. They're never planned, they just happen all the time.
Miller family says
We love going on family hikes!
maria says
best days are our lazy sundays!. sleeping, watching movies, shows, games, puzzles, crafting.. of course having our breakfast lunch and dinner in our pjs
Jennie says
I love playing out in our newly finished backyard as a family.
Brian and Courtney says
It is simple really, but I love my son's bedtime routine. After bath, we snuggle in a comfy chair and read his bedtime books. I pray for him and sing to him (he has to endure my terrible voice), and then it is off to bed with plenty of kisses.
freebiequeen15 says
I love bath time with my boys! So special!
Lisa says
Bedtime routine- bath, reading, then prayers together. It definitely helps our girls go down a lot easier when there's a routine!
Miss L says
Eating dinner together. As the kids get older, things get crazier, so it's especially nice to have the time to reconnect.
Rachel says
Sunday night popcorn while skyping with grandparents. Since we're on the opposite coast now, we skype with different grandparents, but still the same tradition! 🙂
DanaJ says
I'm loving rocking my youngest to sleep (I know I shouldn't!) because it is so peaceful and calming for us both!
Abby says
um your pizza looks amazing
Dawn Monroe says
During winter months we have a karaoke night once a month. Its a blast!
Joelle says
I don't let my kids stay up late often either. I need my relaxing time!
Jenny says
We also love family movie nights with pizza on Fridays. 🙂
Mindy says
I love our bedtime routine: baths, jammies, then cuddling in my big bed to read stories.
Becki says
Friday night pizza night is a staple at our house too. Such a fun tradition!
Jessica says
Not sure how "family" this is, but – I sleep in on Saturdays while my husband feeds the kids breakfast:)
Melissa says
Nap time every day, family dinner every night. We do family movie night too. We usually call it coffee table dinner and eat dinner at the coffee table while we watch a family movie. Even my husband gets excited about "coffee table dinner".
Melissa says
Pizza night on Wednesdays! Gotta have something to get us through the rest of the week.
Su L says
Take out Fridays. 9 out of 10 times it's pizza! – Su L
Lauren says
We just moved across the country, so routine is touch right now. But I love putting my daughter to bed. Bath, pjs, boob/bottle, story, and "I love you" Simple and a perfect end to the day.
Sandra says
Breakfast for dinner is a favorite – we love waffles!
Jessica says
Sorry if I double posted (not sure if the first went through). We don't have a family "tradition"- we probably do but I can't think of anything consistent. My baby is 4 months old. My favorite family time activity is when I'm nursing the baby to sleep while my husband reads him (and me!) a book. It's a treat when it happens since his schedule is so busy!
Rachel says
Growing up it was my dad making breakfast on Saturday mornings, and now my husband and I are trying to institute that with our family (which right now is just us and a soon to be born baby, haha). I also love the idea of family movie night, something else we might try out.
The Fam says
Pizza on Friday nights seems so simple, but it's a routine we so look forward to!
Rebekah says
In the morning while everyone is still groggy & not quite ready to do chores, but must get out of bed, they all pile on my bed ( I'm already up, dressed, bed made) and I read a few short stories – board books, then one chapter of a chapter book. Many times they just listen as I read & kind of snuggle like sleepy little bumps on a log, but as they wake up better, they will doodle whilst they listen. They will not forgive me if we skip this more than a couple of times per week.
Sarah says
That basket sounds awesome, and I love the movie night idea. My kiddos would love it.
Justine says
A book before bedtime is definitely key!
Anne says
Visiting the farmer's market on Saturday mornings.
Emily Ducatte says
Wrestling with my son to get him tired enough for bed.
kely Sander says
Movie time with the whole family
Allie G says
We go to get produce and then go feed the animals
Lindsey C says
I loved reading all the other comments about weekly family traditions. Besides nightly bedtime routine and biweekly trips to the library, we don't have a lot weekly fun "traditions" but I feel like now is the perfect time to start some with Charlie.
Abigail says
Friday pizza nights are my favorite =)
Allison says
We do pizza movie night too – so much fun!
jenblazz says
What an amazing giveaway! And their new designs are so cute.
Maggie Balboa says
Bedtime, after baths, everyone gets into their pajamas. We read a story… have last minute conversations. Give hugs, kisses, and say our prayers. I love this time! The kids are so sweet and precioys!
nitebabe10 says
WE LOVE WHEN SATURDAY COMES AROUND. IT'S MOVIE AND PIZZA NIGHT.
Lauren says
Friday night Shabbat dinner
Debbie Jensen says
Stories before bed
wins4me says
Sunday dinner with the family
Norby family says
We do weekly movie nights on Sunday with popcorn and soda. My kids love it so much!
Tricia Galbraith says
Making pancakes or french toast every weekend!
juanita may says
Bath and read a book every night.
mijulin says
I love family time fridays
marie
Sharon Howard says
Our family goes camping every summer in W. Va. for a week and it's all the Aunts, uncles, cousins and all the new members of our big family including my own grandkids and the one on the way all this would come in handy.
Sanja T says
My favorite is pajama days, when I don't work me and the kids spend all day in pjs and just bum and relax around the house.
Jenae says
Have any favorite movie recommendations? We love doing movie nights and have dinner on a blanket.
jpetroroy says
Morning stories!
Susanne says
Our much anticipated summer vacation where we're together all the time and just enjoying each other with no schedule.
Renee says
We are foster parents so the ages of our kids varies. Currently we have a 10 month old and a 13 month old and so we don't get to do a lot of family activities. So currently our family tradition is on Sunday evening we put the kids to bed a bit early and the hubby and I have movie or binge tv show watching.
Elin Woods says
Watching Alice in Wonderland with my niece when it's my turn to babysit. It's our movie.
Christina Easter says
While dinner is being cooked, the parent that is not cooking dinner that night sits and reads to our daughter the entire time. She loves her reading time so much.
Alison says
Jealous that you have IKEA. We don't have those in Nebraska. Booo!!
I love your daughter's red hair. My youngest has bright red hair and I love it. 🙂
april says
We've been doing Friday night movies for well over a year, and that works out excellent. I make the kids popcorn and fruit for dinner (and sometimes yogurt, and occasionally something more but popcorn usually is good for everyone) and the kids eat on the floor with their floor pillows. This week we're doing Who Framed Roger Rabbit before it disappears from Netflix.
Ashley says
I love our nighttime routine because I get to read to my kids. I love that they enjoy reading books so much!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Kristen says
Weekly field trips all summer long! They're the best.
Tara G says
What a great giveaway! I love getting to have lunch with my husband most weekdays (working at the same university definitely has its benefits). I'm really enjoying reading about everyone else's routines, and must admit I will be stealing some of these ideas to try for ourselves. We are excitedly anticipating the start of new family routines when our little girl finally joins us next month–there's some great inspiration here! =)
Nicole says
I love walking to school in the morning as a family.
Maren T. says
My fave routine is a weekly library trip- I'm sure you can relate
Annastacia says
Um best giveaway ever! Also you do movie night way better than me, I'm taking notes 🙂
Emily Lawler says
Can't wait to have movie nights with my family! Also, thank you for such an awesome giveaway!
Melissa says
we love stories before bed! Would LOVE to win this giveaway 🙂
Julia K. Riley says
Breakfast tacos and Mexican Coke on Sundays. The best!
Tracy says
One of our favorite routines is reading together before bed!
Tracy says
And M&Ms sprinkled in the popcorn bowl for movie night.
Jodi says
That is awesome!
Veronica says
Saturday morning Costco with Grandma and cousins!
Becca says
Ty, who it is safe to say has almost zero culinary talents, makes waffles every Sunday morning with Tal. They are sometimes… not that great, but it's the sweetest tradition.
wtiger9 says
Coffee and snuggles in bed on weekends!
Lara says
Friday night was always our pizza/family night as well growing up. Those were the days when I thought a can of grape soda was second to none. 🙂
amanda whitley says
i like our family game nights
sil says
what a great idea! i will have to start this at my house once my daughter is older – maybe with pasta or some other takeout since my daughter has pizza for lunch every friday at daycare.
Rachel says
We always watched movies on Fridays when I was growing up. My three year old would love continuing that tradition. And my husband would love the pizza every Friday tradition.
Jen says
I'm actually pregnant with my first, so we don't have any routines/traditions yet. 🙂 I hope to start a sleep routine first (ha), and then add in some fun routines like a family movie night later on!
Kristin says
We read aloud at the table after dinner and before we do the dishes.
Jen Bosen says
French bread Friday! We pick up some fresh produce, bread, and samples of fancy cheeses from Sprouts and have a picnic together every week.
Tara Andrus says
Sunday dinners at Grandma and Papa's house with cousins!
sandyhills x says
Would have to say that we love to wake up to homemade croissants on Sunday morning – rafflecopter – shaunie
Kristin says
Dinner as a family every night!
Christine Jessamine says
we love doing story time before bed
Mary Beth says
We love Friday movie nights too!
Cindy Lin-Murata says
Every Saturday night we have dinner at Souplantation. Salad and soup with tons of choices for the kids, win-win
Rachael Smith says
movie night every friday night!
Berry Campbell says
One of our favorite routines is reading bedtime stories before bed.
Emily says
We have family movie night once a week, too. Pizza or tacos while watching a movie the kids usually picked out. 🙂
home to enjoy says
We have Friday movie nights too!
The Maughan-sters says
We love to go out to eat as a family. Esp. Those nights kids eat free at places 🙂 we also like to do fam movie and or game nights!
Erin says
We love bedtime! That's our favorite routine.
blew415 says
Walking around the block pointing out things in nature
Harmony Burmeister says
Love bath time, the kids have so much fun