Summer has officially begun and we are embracing the change of pace it brings for our homeschool lifestyle. After completing our curriculum workbooks in April and balancing various activities such as baking, handwriting, gardening, and aquarium visits, we are ready for some summer fun! We've also managed to fit in end-of-year testing, dance competitions, a dance recital, taekwondo belt testing, and Kensi's 5th grade graduation. Whew! Can you tell we need to slow down?
This year, we've decided to create a summer bucket list, something we skipped last year. The kids have numerous ideas, but it's essential for us to balance fun activities with downtime to foster creativity. I know as a parent of five boredom can become bothersome, but it's nothing to be afraid of as it helps the kids use their imagination. Our list includes budget-friendly activities like pool visits and backyard movie nights, alongside short day trips to explore different towns.
We are eager to dive into our summer plans and would love to hear about your favorite summer activities. Finding that perfect mix of fun and relaxation is key, and we're excited for what's ahead this season!
Happy February friends and welcome to my new space for my blog that started over 12 years ago! It's been a hot little minute since I've shared on this type of platform because I've been slowly moving my old blog posts over here. (still working on it btw). As our family has grown over the last couple years and so had our life, I knew I really wanted to move into a space where I could keep many of the things I continue to work on such as sharing fun crafts, delicious recipes and tips for wellness all in one space! So here we are, welcome to Braden & Crew! I am thrilled to have you here and hope you feel inspired by the things I share.
For those that may be new, I'm Rachael Braden. I married my high school sweetheart, Mike, in 2009 and we immediately moved to Rockville, Maryland where he worked for the government and I taught at a private preschool. During our 2.5 years in Maryland we moved to Frederick, explored the state on our weekends, and would often make day trips to the beaches in Delaware. In 2011 we moved back to our hometown of Bennington, Nebraska (just outside of Omaha) and welcomed our first daughter, Kensington. After a year and a half in Omaha we packed everything up again and moved to an area just outside of Wilmington, North Carolina. We're right on the coast and about 30 minutes from the beach. We've been here for 10 years, welcomed four more children and absolutely love where we live!
I've been a stay at home mom since our first baby, slowly stepped into homeschooling, started my own Young Living business and love finding natural alternatives as often as possible. It's definitely a balancing act between natural and unnatural products and I can confidently say we love our essential oils, making sourdough bread and gardening, but we also love boxed cheese crackers, French fries may be one of our favorite foods, and please let me eat chocolate every day. Thank you for being here and I hope I can inspire you as I share a little bit about our lives.
