This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dixie. The opinions and text are all mine. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Back to School Traditions – Friday Night Family Barbecue

I’d like to say that I made a fancy sign for them to hold on their first day of school (does holding up fingers count?) or made them a special first day breakfast (um – cereal?), but the thing is, our lives our busy and sometimes we just have to make an effort to enjoy more moments just with each other.

As life with a family of 5 gets hectic, I find that it’s important to stop stressing about the small things. (like how I look in the picture above after a full day of mommyhood and having a kid photographer)

The truth is, my kids do not need a “Pinterest Worthy” back to school picture in order to remember their first day of school. They will remember my smile after taking a goofy shot to send Grandma and Moms lingering embrace.

My kids do not need homemade cinnamon rolls or waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream, although it does sound good.

My mantra this year is to stress less and enjoy the moments more.

What my kids need is – ME.

Without the stress of making picture-worthy events. Without the stress of rushing to clean up and do dishes. Without the need to impress anyone.

They need to have me in the moment, cherishing time with family. I’m lucky to have them in my life and need to take time during the busy moments to embrace the moment.

So in lieu of all the extravagant back to school traditions, we are kicking it back to the basics this year with an end of the first week of school Family Night Barbecue.

It didn’t take much planning at all.

Steps to Organize a Family Night BBQ for Back to School

STEP 1: Ask your family what they would like to eat on the grill.

STEP 2: Get the kids to make a table decoration.

1. Grab a piece of card stock
2. Fold in half.
3. Let them write the words and
4. Decorate it.

STEP 3: Assemble a tray with Dixie plates and silverware, vegetables, fruit, and any needed buns.

If you have more time you can also make a side salad using these simple recipes for Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe, Potato Salad, or Old-Fashioned Three Bean Salad.

STEP 4: Grill.

Doesn’t everyone grill and serve certified Angus beef filet mignons on paper plates?
(That way my choice! The kids wanted hot dogs)

STEP 5: Sit down and enjoy the meal.

My husband walked through the door just as I was setting the food on the table…

WHAT? Filet Mignon on paper plates???

You bet honey!  A delicious meal and no one’s doing dishes tonight

STEP 6: Talk about your first week of school

• What are your classmates’ names?
• What is your favorite subject to learn about so far?
• What do you hope to learn this year?
• In 3 words, how would you describe your first week of school?

STEP 7: Then clean up! Which takes only a few seconds!

STEP 8: GAME TIME… because we saved time on clean-up using Dixie Plates – we were able to play a game of Spot It before snuggling up with a good back to school book and heading to bed.

Back to School BBQ Ideas

• Steak and Mango Salsa Flatbread
• Healthier Potato Salad
• Kale and Orzo Pasta Salad
• Salad Bar Ideas
• Delicious and Easy Appetizers

Family Notes:

Although we typically use glass plates, it’s really nice to bring out the disposable Dixie products for a really quick cleanup. Back to school can be hectic and stressful. Those extra few minutes that would have been spent doing dishes were instead spent snuggling with kiddos.

It’s important to find the balance. My kids need me present in the moment. Family gatherings should be cherished and enjoyed by all!

Dixie believes nothing should interrupt family moments. Gather around your loved ones, linger a little longer, and be more here.

You may also enjoy these activities…

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ticonderoga. All opinions are 100% mine. Affiliate links included in this post.

Teaching young children to learn to write is one of my most favorite things to do. Giving a child the right writing tools to be successful is an important step. A large size round No. 2 pencil is easy for small hands to hold making them ideal for children in the early stages of their writing development.

Have you bought your Ticonderoga pencils yet for your beginner writer this school year?

Using a Beginner Pencil for Handwriting

In my Kindergarten classroom, I prefer to teach how to properly write using large diameter pencils. This back to school season we’re kicking off our writing with a very special pencil from Ticonderoga Pencils, just for beginning writers ages 7 or younger.

The larger pencil is so much easier for little hands to hold as they develop their fine motor skills and story writing skills. Plus it helps with learning to form the proper way to hold a pencil which can make a huge impact on handwriting in the future.

BUY NOW ON AMAZON

With oversized beginner pencils the thicker core of graphite helps to prevent the frustrations from the graphite breaking, and they stay sharper longer as your child practices writing with a pencil. It gives them time to be creative and write down their thoughts.

If they make a mistake the erasers remove marks easily without smudging. You’d be amazed how distractive little tasks like erasing can be to beginning writers.

Handwriting Skills for Preschoolers and Kindergartners

Handwriting skills start off at an early age as fine motor skills that you learn through hands-on play. If you have a preschooler at home I’d recommend starting off this school year by heading to your favorite store for school supplies and look for the My First Ticonderoga Pencil. These larger pencils come pre-sharpened plus they come with a bonus sharpener too.

If you’ve never seen them before, you need to know that they are much thicker than regular pencils which helps with easily being able to grip. The pencil’s graphite is big enough to withstand even the hardest writers for smooth writing. These pencils are great for beginning writers who would like a substantial size that is easier to hold on to as they work on proper pencil grip.

How to Develop Proper Pencil Grip

You might be wondering how do I teach my child how to hold a pencil?

You start by developing the skills that are required, which requires a lot of hands on play and exploration. Playground time can make a huge impact in your child’s handwriting as they grow up, so go PLAY! Below I’ve listed some of the things your child will develop for their handwriting skills and proper pencil grip.

• Very young children even start by tummy time to build their postural strength through so they can sit up at a desk eventually.
• Develop shoulder and upper arm strength and stability so they can hold their arm steady whilst they write by playing push and pull games and hanging from the monkey bars.
• When writing you’ll need to stabilize their wrists so activities like painting on an easel or using a rolling pin. Even holding onto swings is important in developing these skills.
• One key element to proper pencil grip is the arch of the palm. Invite your child to play with the trigger of spray bottles, tongs, or hole punches to develop hand grip strength.
• To help develop a child’s pincer grip you can encourage them by threading small beads, using pegs, or pinching playdough.

Continue doing these activities while your child is developing their proper pencil grip.

To set your child up for success it’s important to remember that very young children will not be strong enough to hold small pencils. They are working on the ability to control and stabilize their shoulders/wrists. Because of this kids tend to use chunkier writing tools, like My First Ticonderoga Pencils, and write using whole arm movements. As their strength and control develops, the movement of writing will move from the whole arm, to the wrist, and finally to the fingertips.

The goal is around ages 4-6 years old your child will develop a static tripod grip on their pencil.

This is the ideal grip to help move the pencil efficiently, accurately, and at a good speed. Once your child masters these skills they are ready to start practicing and perfecting their letter formations!

Here are some additional tips to improve handwriting for your child.

Pencil Themed Handwriting Activity for Kids

For a playful idea for a handwriting activity you can create fun letter cards together that are inspired by pencils. The pencil clothespins help to develop hand drip strength and focus on letter recognition too. We used some chubby clothespins from a local craft store and some leftover paint to create these pencil clothespins.

Grab some paper and your beginner pencil for writing fun with your child. Or you can use these pencil themed clips to display your child’s handwriting work for the school year!

Head to the store this back to school season and look for the Ticonderoga large diameter pencils (also called primary or beginner size pencils) for young children (7 and under), or differently-abled individuals and start working on your writing skills.

They’ve spent 100 years of helping families tell their story. Ticonderoga focuses on being #1 in quality just for you!

Looking for more ideas for handwriting and fine motor skills with kids? Try these…

As a parent, it has been my mission to enrich their after school learning with a minimum of one hands-on science experiment at home every week.

Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate Links used in this post.

Hands-On Science and Math Book Review:  Density Science Experiment

Many thanks to Gryphon House Publishing for sending me the book Hands-On Science and Math: Fun, Fascinating Activities for Young Children.

The author is a teacher and firm believer in STEM at an early age (can you see why I love her already!) She is a National Board Certified teacher with her BA in Elementary Education and masters degree is teaching English to speakers of other languages. Not only that, but, she has made it her mission to provide hands-on science and math to her early childhood programs. This book is a compilation of the kids and teachers favorite activities.

The book is divided up into 5 chapters.

1. Learning and Experimenting
2. Measuring, Identifying, and Classifying
3. Changing, Bubbling, and Rolling
4. Cooking, Looking, and Listening
5. Growing, Adapting, and Exploring Nature

Each lesson is presenting in lesson plan format with the background of the academic concept and what to talk to kids about. These lessons also include a math and literacy connection for students to complete. The materials needed for the activities in are easy to find and include items such as

• bowls
• lids
• water
• Spoons
• Paper
• Markers
• coins
• Paper Towels
• Pipettes
• Magnetic Wand
• Magnifying Glasses
• natural materials
• Unifix Cubes
• Plastic Cups
• Food Colors

Density Science Experiment

I decided to set out an experiment on density and matter for their first after school science lesson.
The directions on how to set up and run the experiment are on page 57 of Hands-On Science and Math: Fun, Fascinating Activities for Young Children.

We talked about the vocabulary

Mass
Volume
Density
Matter

Then the children poured the liquids in and observed.

We discussed the results.

I handed them their science journals and asked them to draw and label the final outcome.

I encouraged them to write a few sentences about the experiment using some of the vocabulary.

More Hands-On Science and Math Resources,

You may enjoy these  education books too:

Science–Not Just for Scientists! Easy Explorations for Young Children

Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors

The Garden Classroom: Hands-On Activities in Math, Science, Literacy, and Art

STEAM: Preschool Activities for STEM Enrichment

If you liked this activity, you may also enjoy these…

With only 18 summers in a child’s life, it’s very important that you make an effort to plan for something special to capture those childhood memories with your kids and if possible extended family.

Have you ever considered a vacation with your extended family?

I personally recommend planning for a summer vacation getaway with your children and children’s grandparents. Planning it at the end of the summer somehow seems to make summer feel longer. It’s also a special way to end the summer making memories before the business of the school year starts.

For our family, it’s our way of pressing pause and really enjoying moments with our children and with our parents.

Disclosure: Wyndham provided us with a complimentary vacation condo during our stay. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own and my family’s.

Planning a Trip with Extended Family

We planned a multi-generation stay in Orlando with grandparents who are visiting us from India.
This summer trip we were invited as guests at the WyndhamBonnet Creek Resort in Orlando. Here’s a sneak peek of our stay at this gorgeous resort along with some tips we’ve learned after traveling with our whole family for many years.

These tips can help you plan your next adventure with your extended family to your favorite destination.

As you begin to plan for your family vacation getaway it’s always best to get together and find a system that works for everyone. Here are a few online tools that we use as a family with my parents, my husband’s parents, our siblings and their families, and even close friends when we plan vacations with a large group.

We’ve planned quite a few trips with kids that include family members and I’d like to share some tips that work best while planning. It takes a little time and finesse to plan all your fun vacation activities.

Pick a Destination

This is probably the hardest task of them all!

As a family, we keep an ongoing list with our extended family of places we’d like to explore.
We each try to find budget-friendly deals at those locations when possible. We’ve traveled to the beach, mountains, and even a cruise together with multi-generations but pretty much any location can work.

We have a Pinterest Board filled with Places to Travel if you’re looking for inspiration. This summer we wanted to be in Orlando with a variety of options to choose from.

{Click here} for my post about places to Visit in Orlando.

Find a Destination to Accommodate a Large Group

As you are choosing a vacation destination I recommend looking for a location that can hold a large group with multiple rooms. Booking a large space at times can be more budget-friendly too.

We all need space at times during the extended trip, especially when you have little ones who need naps too so having separate sleep areas can help. Be sure that it provides a full kitchen. With a large group on vacation, you can save a lot of money making meals at home together. Many larger places require a week’s stay so keep that in mind while you are searching.

We planned our trip at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in Orlando at the end of summer because of the choice of having 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms with your vacation condo. The condo had a large common area for all of use to spend time together and at the same time also had the ability for us to each get ready in our own areas and for the kids to have some playtime together too. 

The full size kitchen and eating area was a helpful feature so that everyone could sit down to eat together at mealtime. There’s something very special about having all of your family eating meals together for a period of time that helps to build connections and memories.

One thing to keep in mind as you schedule is to give your family time to just enjoy the space that you’ve booked for the week. Many facilities have great amenities to keep your family entertained. Our resort, Wyndham Bonnet Creek, had far more amenities than we could ever have anticipated. Plus they have a daily activities calendar too. We enjoyed discovering all of the features together each day. 

They had 5 pools, splash park, 2 lazy rivers, private cabanas, hot tubs, kids’ playground, volleyball court, ping-pong tables, pool tables, walking path, fitness center, game rooms, picnic area with grills, kids craft center, and much more! We packed a few family games that we knew everyone loves to play too for back in the room too when we need downtime to refresh.

Honestly the lazy river, near our condo in Tower 5, attracted our family the most and we spent several hours there floating around the pool in our tubes. I loved that there were grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles and parents all doing the same thing with smiles, laughter and relaxation.

We floated and swam around it as we enjoyed the castle features and cannons that splashed us. We packed a snack and drinks in our cooler so that we could stay there a bit longer. A few of the pools even had water slides, one even looked like a pirate ship!

One of the highlights of our trip at Bonnet Creek was each night to be in our room on the balcony when it was time for Disney’s Fireworks. Since the resort is on Disney property you are so close! From our balcony all of us joined together to watch them at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They were gorgeous reflecting over the water.

Create a Vacation Board on Pinterest

• Research Local Attractions together as a whole family and add pin ideas onto a shared Pinterest Board.
• We usually make our secret board so no one needs to see what we’re planning outside of our family.
• Plus then we can type below in the comment section opinions about things and why they are ideal.
• You could even add the price of the venues on the pin description so you can budget accordingly.
• We make ours a Place Board so we can also highlight where the locations are that we are pinning. Makes it so easy to find when you are at your destination.

One tip is to start with a hotel’s feature page. Many Hotels have already done the search for you on what’s close by. Many hotels and visitors bureaus have also started creating their own Pinterest Boards too.

Ideas for Things to do in Orlando

We did spend quite a few days at Bonnet Creek Resort however since we were there for a whole week we also had days to go on adventures together in the mornings or afternoons. We spent time at Downtown Disney Area near the Resort. Then we drove up to International Drive to explore the new Sea Life and the Orlando Eye.

We also drove over to the Florida Mall to go to the new Crayola Experience. No trip to Orlando is complete without a beach trip so we drove up to the Central Florida Zoo on our way to Daytona Beach. It was so much fun exploring these locations together as a whole family. 

Plus we had our good friends who are local join the fun a few times too! The more the merrier!

Of course, with the resort on Disney property, we could have easily spent time visiting the Disney amusement parks.

We’re saving that for our next time visit this fall when it’s a bit cooler. Here’s our Planning for Disney Pinterest Board we can’t wait!

Perhaps a quick trip to SeaWorld too, we loved it last holiday season.

Create a Google Calendar-

One way that we’ve found to be effective is to use a Google Calendar to schedule out our days. Once you add multiple people to an experience it’s helpful to be sure everyone in on the same page and has felt that their interests are being expressed.

You could even add in a link from your Pinterest board pin to be sure everyone knows what’s planned.

Communicate on a Google Document or Facebook Group–

Find one method that works for your family to discuss the trip. We’ve done both ways and either way using a Google document or a Facebook group with files works well. It’s a way that no matter where you log in, you can view it and add to it when needed. It also keeps an Audit track of who added what notes.

Share Responsibilities with Everyone–

We took turns being the person who does various roles such as cooking dinner. It’s a vacation and trust me it takes a little bit of work with so many people in one spot to be sure one person doesn’t feel that they need to take care of the whole family. The kids really get into helping when they know what’s expected of them too. 

We hung the task list up on the fridge so everyone could remember what they committed to. Having so many family members in one space it’s important to keep things organized.

Create a Vacation Meal Plan Together-

We all have our own little things that we enjoy eating so take time before the trip to plan out what needs to be added to the grocery list. My suggestion is to only send one person or two to the store to grab all the items on the list.
It can be overwhelming if everyone joins the shopping adventure.

Take a peek at the area you are visiting and find a few select restaurants that you want to save as special experiences together. With larger groups see if they take reservations so that your family isn’t having to wait for long periods of time for a table. Bring something for ALL the kids to do so that they are entertained. Bigger tables tend to take a little bit longer for service, especially when all the grown-ups are having fun talking.

Discover Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Our vacation at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort had a variety of options to keep our family entertained and make lifelong memories together. The property was well maintained with active and friendly staff. The landscaping surrounding the entire property made you feel like you were in a tropical paradise. Our condo itself was beautifully furnished with everything you need for your family to live there for a week but still make it feel like a special experience in an upscale family friendly space.

The Vij Family Review

Our family had an amazing vacation at the resort that we will never forget. I’ve already asked my parents to look at their calendars to see when we can book a trip with them and the kids to return. The kids’ favorite was the lazy river feature. The view from our room in Tower 5 on the 10th floor made our experience extra special each morning and night.

Grandparents Review

Our favorite was the fireworks each night with our grandchildren and the evening walks around the beautiful lake.
Being able to spend time together as a family was priceless.

Aunt and Uncle’s Review

It was such a fun trip for our extended family to stay together and enjoy quality family time at Wyndham Resort. Kids enjoyed the lazy river with cousins and activities offered by the resort. Watching fireworks from the balcony was one of the memories that will stay with us forever. We can’t wait to plan our family reunion again there.

We hope you find these tips helpful as you plan your next vacation getaway with extended family. With the convenience of online tools, you’ll be set for success and able to spend quality time with your whole family making memories that last a lifetime.

Have a tip for vacationing with extended family? Please tell us below in the comment section.

Thank you Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Thank you to our new friends at Club Wyndham for inviting us to be their guests for the week. Club Wyndham is a leader in providing world-class vacation ownership experiences, with more than 75 resorts found in America’s most popular destinations.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook,Twitter,Instagram,Pinterest and visit their siteto check out how you can book your next trip

Club Wyndham** LIKE IT? PIN IT!**

Click here to see MORE Travel Ideas

Disclosure: We received complimentary tickets in exchange to share our personal review of the OdySea Aquarium. All opinions expressed are my own. 

OdySea Aquarium

As you enter the aquarium you’re immediately surprised by your adventure… LOOK UP!  You’ll discover nine massive globe-shaped aquariums, sparkling overhead filled with colorful schools of fish. An engineering marvel, I still can’t figure out how they take care of these amazing tanks.

One of the welcoming staff insisted we head to the restrooms first, which this momma was thankful for the reminder, however we were quite surprised to discover we were not alone in the restroom, the sink area features a window instead of mirrors which highlights a view of the Deep Ocean, including sharks and stingrays.

This one of kind bathroom view earned them the claim to fame of Voted the Best Restroom in America, seriously!

Here’s some fun facts about the OdySea Aquarium

• 6,000 Animals Call OdySea Home
• 300 Species to Meet
• 65 Exhibits to See
• 200,000 Square Feet to Explore on Multi-levels

From sea turtles, sharks and penguins to octopus, sea lions, otters, and more, we were surrounded by some of the most fascinating aquatic life from around the world.

Our biggest surprise while visiting was the giant submerged escalator which allows guests to descend deep into the ocean while surrounded by thousands of sea creatures including sharks, stingrays and sea turtles.

Tickets INFO for OdySea Aquarium

Gallery Areas to Visit at the OdySea Aquarium

• OdySea Voyager
• Aqua Lobby
• Rivers of the World
• Otter Banks
• SeaTrek
• Touch Pools
• Penguin Point
• Kid’s Cove
• Deep Ocean
• Bizarre & Beautiful
• OdySea Aquarium Theater
• Reef Jewels
• Ocean Art

There are Daily events at OdySea Aquarium which include feedings, caretaker interactions with the animals, and Q&A sessions with aquarists. You can take a break for a snack or beverage, by visiting the Lighthouse Cafe through an actual lighthouse.

The Kid’s Cove is located near the Lighthouse cafe for even more fun for the kids for a little playtime!

Rivers of the World

I was highly impressed by the scale of the The Rivers of the World gallery featuring 19 diverse freshwater fish exhibits in over 100,000 gallons of freshwater. Helping your child explore, locate and learn about the world’s rivers through an interactive map. Freshwater turtles and crocodiles will greet you as you watch them dive, swim, and bask in the warmth.

Touch Pools

Roll up your sleeves and head over to their four touch exhibits: Russian Sturgeon, Stingray Shores, Stingray Bay, and Tidal Touch. With these exhibits you’ll get to see species like sturgeon, sea stars, pelagic rays, benthic rays, and anemone up close.

There are over 25 rays from four different species waiting to interact with your family.

Deep Ocean

As we headed toward the sign to move downstairs we expected just a simple escalator but were to in complete awe as we stepped into a fully enclosed Deep Ocean Escalator and which transported us through the Sharks of the Deep Aquarium. The first of its kind, this fully enclosed escalator draws you deeper and deeper into an underwater world where you’re completely surrounded by thousands of mysterious ocean creatures.

On your ride, you’ll observe the giant rays flying overhead and white tip reef sharks. There were numerous rescued sea turtles, 8 shark species, and 3 different large schooling fish! We truly felt like we were under the ocean in a remote destination observing the sea life.

The OdySea Aquarium Theater

We looked at the schedule and discovered there was a 15-minute 3-D film which offers a close-up look at the lives and behaviors of Humpback Whales, Manta Rays, and Whale Sharks. The movie highlights a journey to meet this three Underwater Giants.

The fun surprise is at the end of each screening. The curtains behind the screen open up feature a wall of this beautiful Deep Sea Aquarium that we just enjoyed as we rode the escalator down through it.

OdySea Voyager Ride

As the movie finishes the staff member encourages you to head to ride the OdySea Voyager, I had no idea the journey we were able to embark on. The journey begins at the Great Barrier Reef where guest enter the OdySea Voyager Research Station. Guest then step aboard The Voyager and embark on a journey through the sea. Guests take their seats in a stadium-seating style theatre with 46 ft. viewing windows for the “world’s only revolving aquarium experience.”

As the journey begins, you are then “submerged” into a “submarine” and taken through a narrated twenty-minute storytelling adventure where guests to OdySea Aquarium are invited to join the crew of the OdySea Voyager as they launch one of their five submarines to observe ocean life and search for answers in the deep blue! Along the journey they will encounter sea life varying from Sea Turtles and Broad Rays to giant Lemon Sharks and Sea Lions! It reminds you of a ride at Disney World’s Carousal of Progress and former 20,000 Leagues under the Sea rides which were the inspiration for this exhibit.

Click to plan your visit to the OdySea Aquarium 

OdySea Aquarium Curriculum

To prepare for your trip to the Aquarium I encourage you to take a look at the Aquarium Curriculum for Parents and Educators. They have field trips available as well for schools and homeschoolers.

Ocean Themed Activities for Kids

After a visit to the OdySea Aquarium you can choose from a few of  our favorite ocean themed activities to do with your child to continue the learning and fun at home. So many fun ways to connect and learn more about our aquatic animals and what we can do to protect them for our future.

• Ocean Animal Busy Bag
• 38 Ocean Activities for Kids to Play & Learn
• Host an Ocean Themed Playdate 
• Hunting for Shark Teeth 
• Fish Art Project for Kids 
• Alphabet Fish Game
• Swimming Letters with Dory Sensory Bag
• Sight Word Fish Sensory Bag 
• A House for Hermit Crab Activities 
• Ocean Party Ideas & Crafts for Kids 

OdySea Aquarium Review

My two girls and I had such a great day together at the aquarium learning about aquatic life from around the world. A treasure of this large scale is quite a special treat, especially hidden in the desert in Arizona. My family is so lucky living in Florida to be surrounded by lakes, rivers and ocean life but we still need a reminder of how precious this life is. The OdySea Aquarium is an unforgettable experience for families as we discover all the hidden life and beauty in the waters of our world.

Which aquatic animal would your child want to see the most at the Aquarium? SHARE! 

Click to Learn more about the OdySea Aquarium

Click here for more fun ideas for traveling with kids! 

Disclosure: We received complimentary tickets to Butterfly Wonderland in exchange for sharing our review with you.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Butterfly Wonderland is a gorgeous display of color through butterflies and plant life in a tropical oasis in Scottsdale, Arizona. Featuring the largest butterfly rainforest a large variety of species on flying freely in the butterfly conservatory. The experience of 3000 fluttering butterflies is quite magical!

We found true beauty and peace in the butterflies and flowers in the rainforest at the Butterfly Wonderland. The Butterfly Rainforest is so colorful and calming as you walk around, every turn in a new type of butterfly or plant with gorgeous flowers. In the center of the butterfly conservatory, it features a large waterfall and pond that even has Koi fish. As you explore indoors the experience continues even more with rainforest animals in the reptile, insect, and aquatic animal areas. Plus a food court for when you need to grab a bite.

Click here to learn more about Butterfly Wonderland

Butterfly Wonderland

There’s something so magical about watching a butterfly flying from flower to flower! We visited the Butterfly Wonderland featuring the largest butterfly conservatory in the country with over 3,000 fluttering butterflies. I’m excited to share with you all of the fun exhibits here.

Considered to be the largest butterfly conservatory in the country, this luscious exhibit transports guests of all ages to the rainforest by immersing them in the world of butterflies and other rainforest animals. Live exhibits connect people to nature through a sensory experience that educates and entertains guests for hours.

As you enter the Butterfly Wonderland you emerge into the world of butterflies with a short 3D movie “Flight of the Butterfly” about monarch butterflies’ lifespan and their yearly migration to Mexico.

Once complete you step into an emergence gallery area to experience one of the large amount of live chrysalis on display awaiting for them to emerge into beautiful butterflies and fly freely in the butterfly conservatory. Some of the chrysalis look like gold, others like dried leaves and many had butterflies emerging before our eyes.

There’s even an education cart with hands-on items for the kids to explore, including the shipping containers the chrysalis arrive in, a neat space for visitors to wait their turn to go step into the butterfly world. 

One suggestion I would love for them to include in their daily schedule is Butterfly Release time during the day, a favorite feature at our local Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of History.

Entering the butterfly rainforest is quite magical. The entire area is swarming with butterflies you almost don’t know where to start to enjoy the amazement of it all.  We did several circles around the whole rainforest and every time was a different experience.

Plan to spend time here to enjoy and observe the mesmerizing experience of it all simply. There were a few benches towards the back, but I wish there were a few more spread out throughout the conservatory.

The sounds of the waterfall in the middle and the mist falling from the sky made a tropical oasis that honestly the kids and I didn’t want to leave. The Native American Flute Music was a special surprise that made it so relaxing.

It was very well-managed crowd control, they don’t let too many visitors in any one space at a time so everyone can enjoy. It was very beautiful and informative including the butterfly, insect, reptile and aquatic exhibits.

TIP: The number of butterflies you see flying around largely depends on the time of day. Mornings are best to see lots of butterflies flying. Later in the afternoon, butterflies tend to settle on trees and bushes, where they are better camouflaged.

The Glass Garden at Butterfly Wonderland

Throughout the garden on display for a limited time is The Glass Garden exhibition of Hand Blown Glass Art by Newt Grover. They were absolutely gorgeous, my pictures don’t do them justice. (Available for limited time on display)

Rainforest Reptiles at Butterfly Wonderland

Butterfly Wonderland has a special exhibit room called Rainforest Reptiles. This Exhibit features reptiles and amphibians that are from all around the world!

Take a glimpse into tropical wetlands, woodlands, and tree canopy habitats of Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia and you’ll discover camouflage experts like the Asian Water Dragonor Green Tree Python. Then explore the Amazon, with Blue and Black Dart Frogs of many brilliant colors, Caiman crocodiles and a Mata-Mata turtle. The next stop is the tropical island of Madagascar – filled with incredible animals including the panther chameleon, tomato frog and giant leaf-tailed geckos.

Animals that dwell above & below the forest floor

Learn about the lesser known, but no less spectacular creatures that call the rainforest their home. Orchid Mantids and scorpions that glow, a giant bird-eater Goliath tarantula, as well as other strange, fascinating and unusual creatures.

Spineless Giants at Butterfly Wonderland

Meet some of our world’s largest arthropods! From moths and butterflies to millipedes and walking sticks. Many of our insect friends have changed very little (except for their size) since prehistoric times.

Tropical Waters of the World at Butterfly Wonderland

Discover underwater treasures from the Amazon in our large, freshwater aquariums that house African Cichlids, Amazon Pacu fish and other colorful exotic fish. My girls enjoyed the education cart with items that they could touch from the ocean.

I suggest spending a couple of hours and then grabbing lunch at one of the fun restaurants (keep your ticket for re-admission) and taking another stroll through the butterfly hatching room (100 chrysalis) and of course back through the garden (probably saw about 50 hatched butterflies if not more).

Click here to learn more about Butterfly Wonderland Tickets 

Can’t make it in person? Explore these Butterfly Virtual Field Trips for Kids!

Final Thoughts on Butterfly Wonderland

Our visit to Butterfly Wonderland was truly a magical and peaceful escape into nature. From the moment we stepped into the conservatory surrounded by thousands of butterflies, to exploring the rainforest animals, glass art, and interactive exhibits, it was an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Whether you’re visiting Scottsdale or live nearby, this is a must-see destination that blends beauty, education, and wonder all in one place. We left feeling inspired, relaxed, and full of appreciation for the natural world—and we can’t wait to visit again!

I would encourage you to look into the combo tickets that are available for all of the attractions at the Odysea in the Desert. We did a combo ticket to the OdySea Aquarium to save money. Here’s a peek at our visit.

The Butterfly Wonderland is a treasure in the Arizona desert in Scottsdale. Thanks to Butterfly Wonderland for having us as your guests at this gorgeous location in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Bring Back the Butterflies Resources to help you invite butterflies to your own backyard and help to build a small garden in an effort to reverse the ongoing destruction of butterfly habitats in their local area. Here’s a peek at our Butterfly garden we started in our yard.

Here’s a few butterfly activities to continue your butterfly exploration at home…

Butterfly Crafts for When You Visit a Butterfly Rainforest

• Caterpillar to Butterfly Science Activity with Balloons
• Butterfly Art Project for Kids 
• Retelling The Very Hungry Caterpillar with LEGOS 
• Growing your Own Butterfly Garden

I’ve found a special Holi book that your child will love for this festival too!

Learning about various traditions in other cultures is one thing I encourage all families to do with their children.  It helps us to grow and appreciate the diversity that exists in the world.  It gives our children knowledge and understanding that we are all different and similar in our own ways. One place special to our hearts is India.

This spring as we anticipate the arrival of spring blossoms and bulbs and warmer weather, there is one tradition that our family from India celebrates which is Holi.  It’s a Hindu celebration of color.

Holi Songs for Kids

Learning about a festival can be so much fun with songs.  I’ve previewed the following Holi songs for kids from youtube to show to your child.  They are each animated and are pretty short.  

The songs are perfect if you want to have a few friends over to learn about Holi and read the book Celebrate Holi With Me!  for a book playdate.

If you have a favorite Holi Song please share with me in the comment section below.  

Hindi Rhymes for Children on Holi festival

Happy Holi I Holi for kids | Jalebi Street

Holi Festival Mystery | Music Video | Mira, Royal Detective

GreenGoldKids – Holi Pichkari Party Special Song

Chhota Bheem – Rangon ki Bauchhaar | Holi Video

Holi Song on Shri Krishna

Happy Holi I Holi for kids | Jalebi Street

Holi Song For Children in Hindi

Holi Ki Masti | Bandar Mama

Rangbirangi Holi Song

Kids Holi Dance Tutorial

These holi songs for kids are featured from youtube and mom and teacher approved!

The Story of Holi for Kids

If you’re wanting a little bit more in terms of learning about Holi and the story behind it here is an animated video that shares the religious side of Holi.

What is Holi Festival? – Hindu Festival of Colour – Behind the News

Disclosure Affiliate links used to Amazon books.  

Holi Books for Kids

Explore this collection of adorable and colorful Holi Books for Kids.

Celebrate Holi With Me!  by Shoumi Sen

One thing I love to discover are songs and books about a festival.  This season I’ve found one special Holi book for kids that I want to tell you about. It’s called Celebrate Holi With Me!  

The author Shoumi Sen sent me a copy to read and share with you.  I recently shared a post about her other book Celebrate Durga Puja With Me.

Celebrate Holi with Me Book Review

The story Celebrate Holi With Me! is written through the eyes of the main character Riya who takes you on a colorful journey of how her family and friends celebrate holi.  It provides both kids and adults the abilities to learn about the traditions in India of now to celebrate Holi.  

The fact that it’s written in rhyme makes it that much more fun to read with your child.  

The pages are colorful and tell the many layers of ways families celebrate the special day of Holi.

Plus the story Celebrate Holi With Me!  includes the background of the story of Holi while learning the story of Prahlad and why we celebrate Holi.

For those just learning about this festival, it provides clarity through a story.  Did you know that the holiday signifies good over evil?

Celebrate Holi With Me!  by Shoumi Sen

To learn more about Holi you can visit the Multicultural Kids Blog where several moms have shared their Holi traditions with crafts and activities to celebrate the fun.

Want to learn more about India?  Check out my post about our visits to India and what you might see happening at our front Gate in India. 

Plus you can take a peek at our Indian Samosa Recipe with Mint Chutney to cook with your child.  Snacks are a big part of the celebration of Holi Too.

Supplies for celebrating Holi

Here’s a few suggestions if you’re planning to celebrate your own Holi with kids. Grab some colored powers and water guns on Amazon. I’ve linked them up for you to buy online and have shipped to you easily.

Don’t forget to GRAB a copy of Celebrate Holi With Me!  by Shoumi Sen on Amazon to add to your bookcase.

Holi Activities for kids

Here’s a peek at how our family celebrates Holi 

You can extend these Holi songs by

• making a Rangoli
• make a Holi T-shirt
• cook Samosas
• sing Holi songs
• read more Holi Books for Kids

Want to learn more about India? Here’s a peek from our view at our front gate in India.

Teddy Bear Tea Party Ideas  

Finding opportunities for my two girls who are four years apart to play together can be challenging sometimes. Make believe play is one activity that they are both drawn to at this time at ages 8 and 4. It’s such a fun age to observe as their creative thoughts are played out right in front of you. This afternoon was no different.

We try to change things up sometimes with our kid’s snacks in the afternoon and where we have them.  It helps break up our long afternoon routine. I gave my girls Honey Goldfish Grahams  to try for snack time and encouraged them to head out outdoors to enjoy. 

The next thing that happened was that I see the girls head back indoors and grab a few of their teddy bears, a few tea cups. They both carried them up the back ladder, I must admit it was so cute. 

Then my oldest came in and cut out some triangles from some scrap paper I keep on hand for them to create with. She carried her triangles and tape outdoors to join her little sister. I had to ask what they were up to and they both proceeded to inform me of their teddy bear picnic with the Goldfish Grahams. 

I asked them both why teddy bears and they explained that bears like to eat honey. Then they explained that they wanted to decorate for the tea party as they started to create a banner for the playground. 

They created such a fun moment for snack time with their teddy bear tea party and Goldfish Grahams. I imagine next we’ll be seeing a camping experience with chocolate and marshmallows added to the mix for s’mores together with them which sounds delicious. 

I watched as the two pretended to host a party with their bears and snack together. My hope is one day they’ll look back and remember these special times together imagining about the world or a tiny tea party they hosted for their teddy bears at snack time. Goldfish Grahams are a great snack that kids love to eat and play with.

Reminds me how important it is to have these types of opportunities and materials readily available to imagine with. 

Next time we are sitting down to do some creative writing together I hope that they will take some time to write a story about their Teddy Bear Tea Party and Goldfish Grahams – The Snack that Smiles Back®

Who would your child invite to their snack-time Tea Party with Goldfish Grahams?

For more Teddy Bear Activities for Kids, explore these fun ideas

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Georgia Pacific. The opinions and text are all mine. 

A midst all the shopping, gift wrapping, and work parties, some kids need us to take notice of them and spend time making meaningful moments. Yes. “It’s a messy world out there.” But we can bring joy, laughter, and simplicity to our home by making the most of our holiday preparations.

Christmas Tree Chromatography: Holiday Preparations with Sparkle®

We all know that paper towels can be used for clean-ups (which occur quite often in my house), but they can also be used for crafting AND science! This easy holiday project will get your little ones cleaning, thinking, and decorating – with Sparkle® paper towels!!!

Read on for step-by-step DIY Christmas Activity instructions using paper towels.

Christmas Tree Chromatography: Holiday Preparations with Sparkle

SO… My kids REALLY like to clean our windows.

In fact, they each have their own color-coded spray bottle filled with water and a roll of paper towels to themselves. It is their absolute FAVORITE cleaning chore in the whole wide world. Why? because I only let them do it if they are good, so they think it is something very special! SHHHH, please do not let them in on my little secret.

Practical Cleaning Idea: Make Cleaning a REWARD so it’s something kids look forward to!

During one of these cleaning adventures, my boys happened to get sidetracked… The 3 year old took a detour by the craft supplies and markered on his paper towel. The 6 year old was trying to spray his brother (I didn’t say they were the best window cleaners) and happened to spray onto the markered paper towel.

Both kiddos watched in awe as the colors bled across the paper towel (and onto my counter-top – but that’s another story) They couldn’t believe that the blue turned into purples and the green had yellow in it. What was happening? Our impromptu chromatography lesson spurred a great discussion on colors.

Practical Cleaning Idea: Use water and keep markers out of reach during cleaning time!

Try this holiday activity to see which color dyes are used in each color marker. Use the finished, dried project to decorate with!

Practical Cleaning Idea: Set out old newspaper on your craft surface to protect your table from stains.

Materials Needed

• Sparkle® Paper Towels.
• Scissors, 
• Ruler (optional)
• Spray bottle with water
• Markers (black, blue and purple have worked best for us)

Directions for Activity

1. Trim the paper towels into tree shapes.  We stacked 8 paper towels on top of each other and cut once so the trees were all the same. 

If you want to add some math in, ask the kids to draw you a tree that is 3 inches wide and 5 inches tall on the paper towel. Use that tree as your template.

2. Let the child add ornaments to the tree with different colored markers.

Try a variety of lines, circles, and waves.

Mist the trees with water from the spray bottle. Watch as the dies run on the paper towels.

Explain that the water dilutes the ink and exposes the dies used within the marker to create certain colors.

You can see from our holiday tree that the blue contained purple pigments as well. The green marker had a touch of yellow pigments. The black marker contained green and red pigments.

Use the dry paper towel trees as a table decoration next to each place setting.

Hang them from a string as a holiday decor.

Or send them in the mail to Grandma and Grandpa (Hey isn’t that what you do with all the activities you don’t know what to do with?)

Once you’re done with this activity you can explore these Christmas Tree Activities for Kids.

You may also enjoy these activities…

One way to make these times more memorable is finding ways to involve your child in the process of making a special holiday recipe.

Here’s how to take your cheesecake from good to great with just a few holiday touches that your kids can do with you!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Hillshire Brands Company. All opinions are entirely my own.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cheesecake for the Holidays

The holidays are a busy time of year as a parent. Finding ways to make memories with the kids is something I’m always trying to plan for. Although gifts often seem to be a part of our conversations, it’s spending time together as a family that we cherish the most.

Some of my most favorite memories of the holidays we spent in the kitchen with my mom and grandmas doing special tasks for them. As I think back it was the finishing touches that make it feel special and the holiday music playing in the background.

Here’s a way to quickly put together a special Holiday Cheesecake that will be a hit for your next holiday meal with family and friends. With one quick trip to your local Walmart to grab a Sara Lee Cheesecake, you’ll be all set and ready to bring joy to your meal with your own twist on the favorite holiday flavors of chocolate and peppermint.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients 

• Sara Lee® Original Cheesecake 
• Great Value Peppermint Mint Candies 
• Red Sugar Sprinkles 
• Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark 
• Magic Shell Chocolate Mint Crunch

My kids went shopping with me at Walmart to get our special holiday dessert ingredients. Before heading back to the freezer section for our Sara Lee Cheesecake, we stopped by the center holiday baking display to pick out some special chocolate mint items to decorate our holiday dessert with.

Love how Walmart always seems to feature just what I need in the center isle during the holidays. Finding moments to give the kids ownership in a holiday dessert can be quite special.

Buying an item that is already made can be such a time saver so that you can spend more time together making holiday memories as you complete the final holiday touches together.

Not a fan of Peppermint Bark, then try these delicious Chocolate Orange Cheesecake using the iconic orange wrapped chocolate orange.

Directions for Peppermint Bark Cheesecake 

1. Take your Sara Lee Cheesecake out of the freezer and box to thaw 2-3 hours in the refrigerator before. I recommend decorating it while it’s still slightly frozen to help it keep shape.

2. While your cheesecake is thawing, it’s time to prepare all the holiday decorations for it. Grab a plastic freezer bag, a little more study for kids, and place the 10-15 peppermint candies in it. Have your child use a rolling pin to smash the candies up into small peppermint bits. Place into small bowl once they are small enough.

3. Remove the Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark out from the package. Encourage your child to break it up into tiny bits and place into a small bowl. If you’ve made your own peppermint bark that will work too! Mom tip: We practiced safely using a butter knife with kids while preparing our chocolate.

4. Here’s where you can sneak in a Holiday book with your child because you’ve saved some time with your cheesecake!

5. Once the cheesecake is thawed almost, sprinkle the Peppermint bits and Peppermint barks bits evenly onto the top of the cheesecake.

6. Shake the Magic Shell Chocolate, hand to your child and encourage them to give it a really good shake. Then carefully drizzle the chocolate sauce onto the top of the cheesecake back and forth in an even pattern.

7. Add a few red sugar sprinkles to the top for that extra holiday spirit. This is a holiday recipe really meant to create with kids.

8. Keep your Holiday Dessert in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy your gorgeous Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cheesecake with your family and friends during the holidays.

The best part of this is that you will most likely have a few leftovers of your holiday decorations that you can use later to decorate another holiday treat like a Gingerbread House or Holiday Cookies and have time for it because you use an already made holiday dessert like a Sara Lee Original Cheesecake.

Holiday Dessert Idea for Parties

This holiday dessert recipe is a big hit to bring to parties too when you can’t figure out what to bring but want something festive. We’re planning to share our Holiday Dessert with our friends for holiday get together. Then we’ll make one again for Christmas Dessert.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark twice in the Christmas season is a win in my books!

I love that you can count on Walmart to provide our family the same quality products anywhere you travel during the holiday season so that you can run in and out and grab just what you need to make your holidays super easy and fun and have even more time to spend with your family and we make our holidays memorable.

Don’t forget to stop by the freezer section to grab your Sara Lee Cheesecake for your holiday celebrations!

Need more holiday recipe ideas that are a breeze to make from good to great?

Be sure to follow our Memorable Holidays Pinterest Board for more inspiration for your Holiday Entertaining.

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Wishing you Happy Holidays! Looking for more holiday ideas with kids? Try these 50+ Christmas Activities for Kids!