Trailmix And Textbooks

05/27/2026

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. ❤️

To the mothers who give every piece of themselves to their children — the ones who love fiercely, protect endlessly, and carry more than anyone realizes. The moms who stay up late worrying, wake up early trying again, and somehow keep going even when they’re exhausted.

To the moms who constantly wonder if they’re doing enough, even while pouring everything they have into the people they love most. The ones who put everyone else first, sacrifice without hesitation, and still somehow feel like they fall short.

You are enough. More than enough.

Your love is in the little things, the unseen things, the everyday moments your children will carry with them forever. Even on the hard days. Even on the days you doubt yourself.

The fact that you worry about being a good mom already says so much about the kind of mother you are.

Today is for all of you. The strong moms, the tired moms, the overwhelmed moms, the healing moms, the doing-their-best moms.

You are deeply loved, deeply appreciated, and you matter more than you know. ❤️

04/27/2026

One of our favorite learning moments from the Flower & Garden Festival 🌸🐾
We spent time exploring a garden display featuring Pluto and his dog house, designed entirely with pet-safe plants. It turned into such a great homeschool lesson—learning that many common plants can actually be harmful to pets, and that with a little research, you can create a beautiful space that’s safe for every member of the family (furry ones included!).
The girls loved spotting the different plants while we talked about which are safe vs. toxic, and why it matters. Real-life learning like this always sticks so much better than a worksheet 🌿✨

04/18/2026

I don’t think you really know me. Not all the way. And that’s okay—I’ve gotten good at only showing parts.
The truth is, I’ve carried more than I’ve ever said out loud. Pain I never fully processed. Fear I learned to function through. Exhaustion from always being the one who keeps everything together.
From the outside, I look like I’ve got it handled.
Inside, it’s a lot louder.
Overthinking. Feeling deeply and then pushing it down. Wanting connection but being scared of what it costs to be fully seen.
But I still love hard. I still care deeply. I still notice everything—the quiet moments, the shifts, the beauty people miss when they’re rushing.
And I’m not just what hurt me.
I’m also the person who keeps going anyway. Who builds a life for my kids full of curiosity and experience. Who finds joy in the little things. Who tries—even when it’s hard.
And lately… something in me is changing.
I’m done shrinking myself to make everything easier for everyone else.
So if you really want to know me—this is me.
Not finished. Not perfect. Just real.
And for the first time in a long time…
I’m choosing me.

04/15/2026

When you expect the accurate video game player next to you to beat you while he tells you which targets you should be hitting, and you end up best in the vehicle.

03/29/2026

Who knew a soda run could turn into a homeschool moment? 🥤✨

Today we turned our trip to Swig into a mini learning adventure and the kids didn’t even realize it 😂

We covered:
🧪 Science – predicting flavors & talking about carbonation
💰 Math – budgeting their drinks and counting totals
📝 Reading – decoding the menu and guessing ingredients
🎨 Creativity – designing their own “signature drinks”

Real life learning > worksheets all day 🙌

Honestly, this is your reminder that education doesn’t have to look traditional. It can happen anywhere… even in a soda shop.

Saving this as one of our favorite “fun school” days 💛

03/18/2026

It's our 19th wedding anniversary today! And since we're a Disney-obsessed family, we just had to spend the day at the parks. We're in Florida until next month and have been hitting up the parks a lot with our annual passes, which we decided were a must-have back in December. This is our happy place, where all the world's stresses just disappear and we can just be a family. So even though we go to the parks all the time, we knew we had to spend today here.

03/09/2026

Tonight’s homeschool music class was taught by Simple Plan… and we absolutely understood the assignment. 🎸🎶
No worksheets.
No lectures.
No note-taking.
Just 2nd row seats, singing at the top of our lungs, jumping around, and rocking out together at the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival.
Sometimes homeschool music class isn’t about learning scales or reading sheet music. Sometimes it’s about feeling the music, screaming the lyrics, and making the kind of memories that stick forever.
10/10 would attend this class again. 🤘🌸

03/06/2026

🌿🐸 Today we had a surprise visitor at the pool — a little American green tree frog soaking up the sun! He looked a bit confused and dry, probably from the heat and the patio. After giving him some fresh spring water and a shady spot, he was back to his adventurous self, hopping around and settling on the fence in the shade.
💧 How to help wild tree frogs safely:
Only handle frogs if they’re in immediate danger, dehydrated, or on a hot surface.
Provide a cool, shaded spot and a bit of clean water nearby — they absorb it through their skin.
Avoid using tap water with chlorine — spring or dechlorinated water is best.
Keep pets and hands away — frogs’ skin is very sensitive to oils, lotions, and stress.
👀 Signs a tree frog might need help:
Looking dry or chalky on hot surfaces
Restless, frantic movement
Sitting in the direct sun without moving
🌱 Why tree frogs matter: They’re tiny but mighty! Tree frogs eat insects like mosquitoes, helping keep the ecosystem balanced, and they’re a key part of the food web — birds, snakes, and other wildlife rely on them.
💚 Seeing him reminded me of all the frogs I’ve cared for over the years — these little amphibians are resilient but also fragile, and a tiny bit of help at the right moment can make all the difference.

02/24/2026

Big update on our tiny storm rescue 🐿️💛
After lots of care, feeding, warming, monitoring, and many attempts to reunite him with his mama, our little guy is heading to a licensed wildlife rehabber tomorrow morning at 10am.
He has come such a long way in a short time — from cold, scared, and alone on the ground before a storm… to bright-eyed, playful, curious, climbing, and thriving. Watching him grow stronger every day has been such an incredible experience, and yes… we absolutely fell in love with him.
As much as we’ll miss him, this is the very best next step so he can learn everything he needs to grow up healthy, wild, and free — exactly where he belongs.
Sweet little squirrel, you were such a tiny surprise and a huge blessing. We’ll be cheering you on always. 💛