Family Archives - Wait Til Your Father Gets Home

{FamilyShare.com Review}

May 10, 2013 by meredith · Leave a Comment

I was compensated by FamilyShare.com to write this review, as always, all opinions are 100% my own!

While at SNAP! conference a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with a few representatives of FamilyShare.com, a new-to-me website that strives to provide individuals with tools needed to strengthen families and family values. Their entire premise was such a refreshing concept to me, that I knew I wanted to check them out as soon as I had some time to sit down and take a peek around their site.

Well, as luck would have it, we’ve had quite a few rainy weekends since my return from SNAP! {yes, I’m being a bit sarcastic when I say luck}, so I had the time to sit down and do some good old-fashioned internet reading.

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One topic that is on my mind on a daily basis is wondering if my 22 month old is eating enough. He can be so stinkin’ picky some days and others it’s like he’ll eat anything I put in front of him.

I found this article, “Is My Toddler Eating Enough?” to really make me feel a whole lot better about his eating habits. One thing that it really made me stop to think about was the portions that I put in front of him. Yes, he’s a growing boy, but he definitely shouldn’t be eating the same portions of food that my husband and I eat at meals. Stopping to take a look at how much you’re putting in front of your little ones should be a daily practice! Don’t give them too much!!

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A second article that caught my eye was written by fellow blogger, Heidi Ferguson and titled “Yeah, I made that! 3 Ways Crafting Builds Self-Esteem”. This was a fun read for me, since I’d definitely call myself a crafter now. I’ve always had a crafting side to me, but I feel that since starting my blog, I’ve put more time and effort into the projects I create. I don’t ever let myself sit down to make something “just because”. I like for the projects I create to have a purpose and function, something I’d actually use in my own home or give as a gift. And, yes, it does make me feel pretty good about myself after completing a project and loving the end results. That doesn’t mean that things always turn out how I’d like them to, but most of the time, my crafting is a definite self-esteem booster.

One of my recent, most favorite crafting projects, my Mason Jar Sewing Kits.

In addition to all the fabulous articles that Family Share offers it’s readers they also have some other super cool features on their site including:

groups

Q & A page

and their newest edition, Show Love, where you can show love to that special someone in your life {imagine the ultimate E-Card just in time for Mother’s Day}

I highly recommend that you make FamilyShare.com part of your daily internet reading, even if it’s just to check out an article a day! It’s well worth your time and really makes you stop to think about things.

Enjoy!

{Featured image above the post was taken at my son’s baptism this past December and shows our family of three-soon to be four, plus Buddy the bear!}

I was compensated by FamilyShare.com to write this review, as always, all opinions are 100% my own!

About Meredith Hazel

Meredith is a stay at home mom and has been blogging since 2012. She started Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home as a creative outlet in between nap times for her little one. Wait 'Til Your Father gets home is a combination of crafting tutorials, DIY projects, recipes and, sharing some of life's journey along the way.

Filed Under: Blogs, Family, Sponsored Tagged With: family, familyshare.com, review, sponsored post

{Toddler Valentine Cards}

February 14, 2013 by meredith · 6 Comments

A few week’s ago, I shared the thank you cards that Jackson made for his Christmas gifts.

They were such a hit with his grandparents, that I wanted him to make something similar for Valentine’s Day as well. So I came up with another punched card/coloring project for him.

To make Toddler Valentine Cards, you’ll need:

blank white cards and envelopes

crayons

a hole punch

washi tape

heart stickers

fine tip Sharpie

I began the project by letting Jackson color inside the cards.

He takes his art work very seriously!

While he colored, I began to apply washi tape to the leftover heart punches from his thank you cards. Yes, I saved them. I knew Valentine’s Day was coming up and figured I could probably use them for something!

I let the tape hang off the edges…

…and then used scissors to trim around the heart shape, so they looked nice and neat.

To assemble the cards, I punched holes at the bottom, used double-sided tape to attach the heart to the front, and wrote out

I love you a “hole punch”!

Inside each card, I also signed Jackson’s name and wrote the year so his grandparents could remember when this masterpiece was created!

I think the beauty of making these cards is that no one card is exactly the same.

I hope you and your loved ones have a

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’ll be linking up here!

About Meredith Hazel

Filed Under: Crafting, Family, Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged With: cards, crafting, toddler, Valentine's Day

{Metallic Refrigerator Magnets}

January 16, 2013 by meredith · 4 Comments

This may be a weird thing to admit, but I’ve always thought those brightly colored alphabet and number magnet sets that you see at the dollar store are super cute. I’ve honestly almost purchased a pack of them on more than one occasion. Well, over Christmas, I finally caved, and my pregnant self thought I bought a pack of the alphabet magnets. Nope. I swear, I didn’t even realize I had a pack of only numbers until I opened the package and spread them out on the newspaper. Get ready, I’m sure there will be many other pregnant brain moments in the months to come.

I wanted to make the magnets a bit more appealing to the adult eye, especially since my husband has said in the past that he’s not a fan of refrigerator magnets.

To make Metallic Refrigerator Magnets, you’ll need:

some magnets {dollar store find}

metallic spray paint {or any color of your choosing}

Maybe the fact that the label at the top says “Fun with ABC’s” had me thinking they were letters, but if you look next to it, the label also says magnet numbers. Very deceiving.

Not much to really explain here.

I opened the package and spread out the numbers on a few sheets of newspaper.

I then spray painted several light, thin coats of the spray paint over the brightly colored number magnets until I got the desired coverage I was looking for and soon had some fancier ones…

Jackson dove right in and began playing with them on one of his favorite spots in the kitchen, the dish washer.

Look at him, already trying to multiply…my little genius!

I’ll be linking up at these parties!

About Meredith Hazel

Filed Under: Crafting, Family Tagged With: crafts, kids, magnets, numbers

{Toddler Thank You Notes}

January 15, 2013 by meredith · 35 Comments

I come from a family of card givers. My husband thinks it’s comical. To me, there is nothing better than receiving a card or letter in the mail, call me old fashioned I guess. I’m passing that card giving gene down to my little guy early, as he created his first thank you notes this past week. So many people sent him gifts for Christmas, I wanted to send them a little thank you in return.

I can’t take credit for the idea, as I randomly saw it on Pinterest, yet sadly neglected to pin it, so I’m not sure of the source. Do you ever do that? I swear, it’s been happening to me more and more…

These are so easy to make and could easily be a Valentine card this year instead of a thank you.

To make a Toddler Thank You Card, you’ll need…

blank cards/matching envelopes

heart punch

crayons

black fine tip Sharpie

washi tape

I chose a square card and envelope set from Michael’s {take your coupons people}!

And I’ve slowly accumulated some cute washi tape over the past year that I’ve yet to really use.

To get started, I made sure Jackson was well fed and happy, so he’d be in the mood to do some coloring for a few minutes. No one likes to try to get a hungry, grumpy toddler to do something! While he ate, I punched the hearts in the front of each card. I didn’t really care about the exact placement. Some are in the middle, some are in the corner. Do whatever you like best!

I then sat him in his high chair, gave him some crayons, and let him create his masterpieces.

He is currently ambidextrous. Impressive, huh?!

Overall he colored 8 cards and it took two sittings. About halfway through the cards he decided to throw the crayons at our dogs, so I knew he needed a break. Soon he had some pretty good little works of art if I do say so myself. Keep in mind, he’s 18 months old.

I added the saying on the front…”My art is yours” and wrote out his thank you inside each card. To make the cards pop a bit more I also added a few pieces of washi tape to the front and as an envelope seal for fun.

I just love them and think they are so cute.

Linking up here.

About Meredith Hazel

Filed Under: Crafting, Family, Gifts Tagged With: cards, coloring, kids, paper crafts, thank you notes, toddlers

{Christmas Eve Tradition}

December 16, 2012 by meredith · 8 Comments

I’ve always loved Christmas time. If I could start decorating before Thanksgiving, I’d totally be one of those people. Ever since having a child, this time of year just seems that much better…especially this year, when he’s starting to actually be excited by the lights, seeing Santa, Christmas music, the deal.

I’m most excited for starting family traditions of our own.

Last year we started a Christmas Eve tradition by getting him a pair of new Christmas PJ’s.

Oh my goodness, he’s grown so much already. Where has the time gone?!

This year, we’re continuing the PJ giving tradition and expanding a bit. Each year, my kids will get a pair of PJ’s, a Christmas movie to watch as a family, and a new The Night Before Christmas book.