We are only a week into summer, but already loving it! We worked so hard on so many new concepts this school year. As a homeschool mom, I am especially proud of completing another year. Since I teach my kids all year, getting the kids to read during the summer and not feel like they are doing “school” can be tricky. My kids love earning electronic time, and I can play into their love for electronics, by using Disney Story Central.
Disney Story Central is the largest collection of Disney digital stories, featuring a wide array of Disney stories and characters that kids and families know and love.
I can have the best of both worlds by sharpening their love for reading while also allowing them to have some screen time.
The computer doesn’t always make sense for reading. When we are on the go or want to all cuddle up in a more comfy location, we can turn to our iPad. I love that this program can be played on both.
I let my kids pick which books they would like to read from Disney Story Central from our computer. I love that it is a cross-platform experience. Disney Story Central is available via iPhone and iPad app, tablet-optimized website and Video on Demand (AT&T U-Verse).
One of my favorite features of this program is the customizable bookshelves for each member of the family. With a soon to be third grader and first grader, my boys are on different reading levels and they can get personalized reading recommendations for the level they need.
When we were selecting some books, I kept in mind my little Reagan. She’s in preschool and loves to read books! With each book there is the option to read it aloud or have it read aloud to you. She could sit for hours and have these books read to her. She loves it!

Disney Story Central gives families the freedom to choose the reading experience that suits them best, whether through an annual subscription service (unlimited access to the expansive library) or a-la-carte options, using Disney Book Tokens. The Disney book token system works like currency and allows parents to give their kids the opportunity to pick out the books they WANT to read.
My kids love picking out books to read. They sort through, compare, talk about the characters and their favorite parts of the different stories. Reading is so important and starting a fun way to do it as a kid will hopefully create a lifetime love for reading in them.
You can participate in Disney Story Central‘s ‘Mid-Summer Light Reads’ Campaign. The campaign will promote weekly summer reading themes featuring selected Disney titles. By participating you can unlock free books and enter a special sweepstakes! Launching today, June 11, the campaign will run through August 13.
How do you encourage your kids to read during the summer? Thanks so much for stopping by!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Color can move us. It is a reason why it is so hard to pick paint colors for rooms. We want to pick a color that inspires us and creates a certain mood. Rainbows contain so many colors and they all fuze together to be beautiful. It is my Reagan’s favorite color. She might occasionally say purple or pink, but if there is a rainbow option…she picks it. It might be a popsicle. It might be a shirt. It might even be a pair of shoes.
While the rainbows were drying I broke out my ribbon stash. I wanted these rainbows to kind of have a wind chime or dream catcher feel, so what better way than to add some more textures to them!?
As well as having pieces of ribbon cut for their rainbows, they were also making ninja masks. It was quite fun to watch them enjoy and be inspired.
Once they all had a good pile of cut ribbons, I had them line them up in the order they wanted. I then hot glued them in place while also adding a little loop at the top so they can easily be hung.
They turned out so cute! The kids were so excited about them.
We hung the boys’ rainbows where we do school, but my little Reagan wanted hers to hang right above her bed! I now ask her every morning if she had rainbow dreams.
This was such a fun little craft. I love seeing their art around our home!












Summer is here for us. I found myself last week with a huge sense of freedom when Caleb had his last day. As a homeschool mom, my life just got simpler. I am so excited about summer.
We still have our foster son. It looks like he may be with us till the fall. We are constantly reminded how this all changes so quickly. As a planner, someone who likes to know what to expect, and hates surprises…this is one of the hardest aspects of being a foster parent to me. I am learning and this stretching of me, I know, is ultimately growing me.
As school was wrapping up, I started to find more little windows to craft. Hoops are still the easiest thing to do for me, as I sit on the couch at night with my husband and sew while we talk and watch shows.
I hope summer is coming at a needed time for you as well. I pray this summer we find rest and a beautiful rhythm of how to do life. It is a constant balance act, right?
Thank you so much for being on this journey of life with us! If you are interested in any of these hoops, I have just listed them in my 