The Best Telling Time Apps + other Resources

5:05 PM

The Best Telling Time Apps + other Resources

We are in the telling time section of school! It can be harder to learn this without seeing a analog clock little to none for kids now a days. I mean the only clocks we have in our home that our analog, is our huge over sized one, that while it does work and was correct at one time; after I put Halloween fake cobwebs on it it weighed it down & I just haven't put it back to the right time ha! 


I always like helping out in any areas my kids are learning in, even if they aren't struggling at all.

So here are some of our faves for telling time unit.

First, Apps.
There are such amazing resources with apps to help or strengthen really any unit in school your child is having. So, I shouldn't have been surprised when I found telling time apps. I downloaded pretty much every single one available. A lot were duds. I did the dirty work for ya'll & & put together a list of the best apps out there!



This is one of the easier apps for those first learning. You can set the analog clock to what the time that it is showing on the digital clock. This interface is fun for kids compared to the others as well with a cute porcupine!

This one is great for the kid that loves beating the clock & unlocking levels. This games is timed & has the clock ticking in the background which always gets the girls heart rate up! The more stars you get, the more levels you unlock! This one is great for fast thinking, on your toes knowledge!


This app is different from the others because it has options to Learn, Practice then Quiz yourself on telling time. It has similar features to the first app I talked about by setting the analog clock from the time on the digital. This app has a fun reward system for kids by picking prizes after the levels. The girls love picking fish for their fish tank.

This is from one of my favorite app makers! Simple interface. The voice tells the time & they have to click which card has the correct time on them. It increasingly gets harder, & they add more cards. These apps are my favorite because you can set for either all times to be taught, or hone in a certain ones to be working on. You can also record your own voice to use instead of the apps for when they click the correct or wrong card! It's very neat!

Telling Time Flash Cards

Next is flash cards. I am a sucker for flash cards. Our collection is intense. But they work! My girls have had flash cards since they were one! ha! Seriously, we love them. So I was thrilled to find these ones! I use the front for her tell me the time, & use the back for her to draw out or use the clock from below to set it. Bringing the apps above in tangible way.


Telling Time Activity Set

This set is ammmazing. It contains the smaller version of the clock, I am pretty sure we all had in our elementary school class room! I use flash cards to show the analog time, then she sets it on the clock. This set also comes with dice, puzzles, dry erase clock & cards. This is set is amazing, & so well priced. I also want to add, that everything comes with reusable zip locks for everything..& that just makes me love it more! 



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Why we don't only put the A+ on the fridge

7:00 AM
I remember being a kid & bringing home my spelling or math test on Friday. I would be on the bus and would get the test out of my backpack & clutch it, as if somehow it was going to get out of my backpack & walk away. But, just in case, it wasn't happening on my watch. I would walk in & proudly say "Mom, Here's my test!" & Just waited with the biggest smile on my face! My mom would be so proud & that sucker would right on the front of the fridge. With the best magnet to hold it up. The entire family would see MY A+ every time they need milk, water, anything. 

But when I did't get that A, I would pray my mom wouldn't ask about the test when I got home. & just let it sit in my backpack in hopes she wouldn't find it.

Fast Forward to now, my second grader now has weekly spelling tests. She has week after, week brought home 100% A+'s and she is always so proud to take the Disney pin on her cork strip & display it for all to see. When my mom comes over, she will route her over to show her "look Nana, look at my spelling tests" She is always proud. & she should be. She studies & works on the words all week long.

On our little command center on the side of the fridge, each girl also has a basket. It has all their papers from their folders in it so nothing is lost & I go through it all. When I went through the baskets, I came across the previous weeks spelling test. & it occurred to me I hadn't asked her about & she hadn't brought it up. It was a B-, she had missed  2 words.


I asked her & she was so ashamed & I asked her why she didn't hang it up. 
Without ever saying it, she had the impression that only perfect papers & tests adorned our fridge.

Here's the thing, I am not a ever body gets a trophy person.
Not every effort needs rewarded.
Would I love for my kids to always get A+'s? Obviously, yes.
But that isn't realistic.

She worked hard on those words, I know she did. & I will proudly display her B- or C, or whatever it is, as I would a A+
She made some mistakes. But everyone does. 
& sometimes it's good to put them on display. & see them.
I mean, I have to look at my mistake of backing into the garage door... twice in week, every day! ha!
But, I DOES remind me to slow down & really watch what I am doing when I back out from now on.
& that's what I like to tell myself when I am annoyed we haven't replaced it yet 😜😜

I learned from backing into the garage door.
& I think we need to remember, our kids are in school to learning.
It's not always the end result of the letter.
I am more interested in how they got that letter. What was the process. Why do you think you getting things wrong.
So while, it's not a matter of always praising every bad or good grade that comes through our door.
It's showing them that, if you are giving your best, I am proud of your work. Even when it isn't perfect.


The week I put up her B-, she was reminded of it all week long. 
& she didn't like it.
Even with me encouraging her that she worked for it.

That B ended up pushing her to work even harder on her next test. Slow down & think harder.
& what the A+'s do, is encourage her to keep working hard to continue to get them. Because she likes that feeling.

The next week, she brought home a A+.
But she knows now, when she walks in with her test; she never will feel embarrassed or that I only want to see perfection, & that she needs to hide her mistakes from me. There is a lesson in every triumph & every mistake. & she can put any letter grade up on the fridge, & I will still walk by proud because she's learning. 

& I am learning it really is time to replace that garage door. 

Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup

5:01 PM

Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup

In the winter I love soups! They are generally very hearty & just warm you to the bone.
Sometimes though, soups can be a pain to make on week nights with all that we have going on.
This soup is so super easy, & everyone in the entire family loves it & wants seconds!



This recipe is so super creamy & cheesy! Just so delicious! & you can do it all in your crock pot!



Lets get to the recipe!

What you need:
- 6 Large Yukon Gold potatoes, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 cup of diced, onion
- 3 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 4-6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup cold milk
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 block of velvetta cheese
Optional:
 - Bacon bits
- green onion

Directions:
1. Add the potatoes, onion, garlic, salt, pepper & chicken broth to your crock pot. Stir it all together & cook on high for 3.5 hours, until the potatoes are cooked & fork tender.


2. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour into the cold milk until smooth, then add that into potatoes.

3. Add in the heavy whipping cream, stir then cover and cook for another 30 minutes. Add in the chucks of cheese & allow it all to melt.

4. Ladle into bowls, & garnish with bacon & green onion. I already think it is pretty cheesy, but my girls even add a little pinch of sharp cheddar on top too.


5. ENJOY!



Recipe adapted by Dear Crissy

Disney World Vacation: Character Dining {in Resorts}

12:03 PM

Disney World Vacation: Character Dining {in Resorts}


One of my favorite places to dine is in Disney Worlds Resorts. All of them are so unique & beautiful! It is surprising to me that many non frequent Disney goers do not know that there is dining within the resorts. Or that you can go to resorts outside of you reservation!

Some..actually most of our favorite meals & restaurants are in resorts!

For this post I am only going to highlight the dining that includes character dining! 
& will make non-character dining separate post!

Let's get started with the monorail resorts!


Polynesian Resort:

Ohana
This is a breakfast only character dining! The food is amazing here for any meal! But, at breakfast is the only time you will see characters!  This meal is family style. You must order the stitch juice with you meal. & you meal starting the famous pineapple Ohana bread. & I am telling you right now those two thing alone will make you want to come back every trip alone! They are our faves!

Here you will find Lilo & Stitch, Mickey & Pluto!

Pro tip: If you can, ask for a table by the window. It's a perfect view & if you're lucky you can see the castle!






UPDATE: In 2019, Pluto was for photo pass after our meal rather than going around table to table. Unsure if that is permanent move.



Grand Floridian:

1900 Park Fare
When you step into Grand Floridian it feels so magical! The piano playing, the smell, the entire lobby itself! This is forsure a favorite for us! There is different characters here for different meals! All meals are buffet.

Breakfast: Mary Poppins, Alice, Mad Hatter, Pooh & Tigger





Dinner: The evil step sisters, Drizella & Anastasia, the evil stepmother, Cinderella & Prince Charming {all seen at the end of the meal for photo pass photo}








Contemporary 

Chef Mickey

Another breathtaking building, this one is most memorable for it's a frame shape & the fact that the  monorail goes through the building! This character meal is a tougher reservation to get as it is a fan favorite because you get all of the fab five in one place! Every meal is buffet.

The fab five is at every meal & that includes: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald





Beach Club Resort

Cape May

I feel like I will probably be a broken record because every resort on property is beautiful. & Beach Club is no different. For breakfast only you get to see characters for Minnie's Beach Bash. This is a fun buffet with so much to offer & some fun seafood additions. They also have an amazing omelette station with I highly recommend!

Character here are Minnie, Daisy, Donald & Goofy!





Boardwalk

Trattoria al Forno

This is a newer character dining option. & quickly became one of our top faves! This is a menu you can order from, after you get a fun themed pastry tray. We love the interaction here & love that some princes get some spot light! It's perfect for families with boys & girls so both get to see their favorites!

At breakfast only you will see: Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Ariel & Price Eric

Pro tip: Ask Flynn what's in his satchel!





American Girl Live!

1:15 PM
Christmas break is ending, & we decided to kick it off with bang. If you're new here, my girls are huge American Girl doll fans. So, when I saw the billboard for American Girl Live driving down the highway. It sounded right up their alley.

There wasn't much on exactly what it was. Even on the website. I wasn't sure exactly the show even was. So I decided I would post about it to help my other mommas thinking about going when it comes to a city near you!




My mom and I surprised the girls as we were leaving. & as we were about head out, my mom said she had something or me. Back when I was a girl there was like 4 American Girl dolls, & I dreamed of having one. I was so excited when I finally got one for Christmas. 20 years passed and I had wondered where my doll went. My mom searched & searched but it seemed like it was lost or sold years ago. I always mourned not being able to hand it down to my girls, since they are so into them now. So going back to surprising the girls, my mom surprised me / still the girls, as I obviously wont be playing with it; with a a original pleasant company Felicity doll, like the one I had as a girl. We were off to a great start for our girls night!


When you get to the show they have merch set up. There are shirts to buy & one for your doll. I wish they had a matching doll shirt for each of t-shirts they had available but they only had one matching one in doll size. There was also sweatshirts, hats, stickers {as seen from above} & other doll accessories. All of which is exclusive for LIVE shows.




They had a VIP meet & greet available {separate charge from ticket}, & boutique where the girls got to enjoy cookies, coloring & a professional photo of themselves with their dolls! {waiting to get those by email}



The musical is based around a group of girls going to "Camp American Girl" together & them bringing their dolls with them to camp.


Each girl has a story line where they learn a "lesson" about themselves. Who else would help teach that lesson but the doll they brought the camp! The dolls come to "life" in these scenes, & are so well done. My girls gasped at a few!  The stories are of bravery & focus on friendship. The dolls come to life in their iconic "meet" outfits which the girls loved.

The dolls you will get to see are: Mary Ellen, Luciana Vega, Melody, Rebecca, Nanea, & Julie.
I love that they added in a little bit of everybody for everyone, a GOTY, historical & BeForever.

image via

I couldn't take photo during the show, but it was all just so adorable. The songs were lovely, & we left wishing their was a CD of the songs sung during the show.

The show was long, but had a intermission to break it up.

I found it really neat  the age range of all the girls with their dolls, from toddler to teens there was so many girls with their dolls enjoying the show.

& if you are worried if your child doesn't have an American Girl doll of their own, there was plenty of girls without a doll, or with whatever doll they love enjoying the show.



If you have other special women in your life, life a Grandma or Aunt. Or want to make it a girls night with your daughters friends this is such a great time for everyone. I thoroughly enjoy the show as a grown woman.



We had such a wonderful night. It was a wholesome show, with lots of laughter & great songs. It made for a perfect girl night. Def recommend 10/10


IG @MRSMUMAW