Hello Again, My Friends 💛

First things first… I’m so sorry for the silence. I know it’s been a while, and if you’ve checked back in and wondered where I disappeared to, let me just say: life had its own ideas for me these past few months.

Personal things came up (as they do), and I wasn’t properly prepared to weather the storm while keeping up with everything I love—especially writing here and connecting with all of you amazing moms who are walking the wild, beautiful journey of raising a full house. 👩‍👧‍👦💫

But here's the good news: it's now part of my Q2 plan (yes, I’ve gone full-on quarterly planning mode) to build out enough content in advance so that when real life throws curveballs—because we know it will—I can step away to regroup without going radio silent. Think of it like meal-prepping… but for blog posts. 😉

And now, after a bit of a reset, my brain is absolutely churning with ideas. I have so many tips, tricks, checklists, and thoughtful reflections I’m eager to share with you—especially as we head into the season of field trips, spring sports, and the chaos of end-of-school-year activities. 🗓️🎭⚽

But first… let me catch you up on where we’ve been lately. Because, well, life in a house of seven never really slows down—even when mom takes a little pause.

Kaydence: Big Trips and Big Goals 🌍🏐✈️

Let’s start with my oldest. Kaydence is currently in Washington, D.C. for a Model United Nations conference (yes, beaming with pride over here 🙌). This girl has been juggling school, volleyball, and travel like a total champ. Just a couple of weeks ago, we flew out to Minnesota for her volleyball tournament, and I got to tag along.

Mornings were spent in awe watching my amazing niece battle on the road to the Championship game (which they won!), and afternoons were cheering Kaydence on with my parents, brother, and sisters! For the first time ever, we were all able to attend and watch games live! It was an exhausting but oh-so-worth-it kind of weekend. She played her heart out and reminded me—once again—how amazing it is to see our kids thrive in something they love.

But it doesn’t stop there. Kaydence is also preparing for something even more monumental: her school trip to Taiwan. 🛫🌏 She’ll be finishing her Mandarin Immersion education with two full weeks completely surrounded by the culture and language she’s been studying for years. As much as I’ll miss her, I couldn’t be more excited for this huge step in her journey. (Also—packing lists, anyone? I need help. 😅)

Harmony: Art Queen and Aspiring Roller Rink Star 🎨🛼

Miss Harmony spent her Spring Break doing what she does best: redecorating her room, painting everything in sight, and giving her creative energy full permission to flow. If you walked into our house right now, you'd probably step over three half-done art projects and a glue gun still plugged in. 😂

She's gearing up for her upcoming musical performance, and rehearsals are back in swing. Harmony is the type to quietly sing her lines around the house while painting or folding laundry, and I can already tell the show is going to be so fun.

Oh, and did I mention she has a field trip to Skate City coming up? She's been rollerblading around the neighborhood like she’s training for the X Games, just waiting to show off those moves to her friends. Let's just hope there are no major wipeouts, but if there are, at least they'll be graceful.

Odin: Soccer Superstar in the Making ⚽💪

Odin is living his best life right now—soccer season is in full swing! We’ve had several games already, and it’s been amazing to see how far his team has come in such a short time. They’re really leaning into teamwork and ball movement, which might not sound thrilling to non-soccer moms, but to me, it’s pure poetry. 😍

He’s out there hustling, grinning, and soaking it all up. He plays with heart, and you can tell this sport lights him up from the inside out. And while I’ve definitely had to up my laundry game (seriously, how does so much grass get into one sock?!), every moment on the sidelines has been worth it.

Villi: Waiting on the Snow to Melt ❄️⚽🌱

Poor Villi. His soccer practices have started, and he’s been giving it his all—but the games keep getting snowed out. #SpringInColorado, am I right? He’s chomping at the bit to get into real gameplay. After spending the winter working on his footwork and talking strategy with Odin, he’s ready to show off what he’s got.

He’s been a great sport about the delays, but I know he’s craving that “real game” feeling—orange slices, jerseys, and cheering parents included. Here’s hoping for clear skies this weekend! 🙏

Ivaldi: All About That Soccer Life and Dinosaurs 🦕⚽🏛️

Little Ivaldi is thriving right now. He’s been loving soccer practice—getting to run wild with friends, shout “GOAL!” at the top of his lungs, and burn off all that 6-year-old energy? Pure magic.

His first game is this Saturday, and he’s been counting down the days. He even put his shin guards on for breakfast the other morning. 😂

He’s also buzzing with excitement for his upcoming field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Dinosaurs + friends + a bus ride = the ultimate kind of day in his world. I’ve already been informed that he will be wearing his T-Rex socks for the occasion, and I, for one, fully support that decision.

Me: Reset, Reflect, and Reignite 🔁📝✨

As for me? The break from online life was both unplanned and necessary. Sometimes, we don’t realize how much pressure we’re under until we step away. I used this time to reset, reorganize, and reflect on what matters most—not just in family life but in the content I’m sharing here with you.

I realized I don’t want to just post when I have the perfect thing to say. I want to show up consistently—even if it’s just to say “Hi, we’re surviving out here!” or “Here’s what worked (and totally didn’t work) this week.”

So, going forward, I’m working on batching and scheduling posts, carving out time to create a little buffer, and finally using that editorial calendar I printed in January. 😅 My brain is overflowing with blog post ideas—from school lunch hacks, to organizing sports gear, to teaching your kids financial skills without sounding like a lecture.

Also: travel tips for kid trips, how to plan summer camps without going broke, and yes—how to survive homework season without bribing your children (too much).

So stay tuned. I’m back. I'm feeling refreshed. And I’m more determined than ever to make this space a supportive, encouraging hub for all of us juggling life, motherhood, and a whole lot of sticky fingers and snack wrappers.

Let's Catch Up 💬

If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you for sticking around. And if you're new—welcome! I’m so glad you're here. Please feel free to comment below or drop me a message—tell me what your family’s been up to, how the school year is wrapping up for you, or what you'd love to see more of on the blog.

Let’s laugh together, cry a little if we need to, and keep figuring out this whole “life with kids” thing—one beautiful, chaotic day at a time.

Talk soon!
With love and caffeine,
Teal ☕💛

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➡️ Coming soon: “5 Tricks to Survive the School Morning Rush”.

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