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These moments right now are the moments that you will look back on and wish you could have held on to. Long after the tantrums have subsided and kisses no longer heal boo-boos you will remember. You will long for the little humans your children used to be while simultaneously being proud of the adults they are becoming. That is why I believe in creating and preserving memories (probably a little too much if you ask my family). This summer, I’m trying something totally new with my kids. We’re going to work together to make summer memory books! I want a way to preserve a little piece of who they are, right now in these moments. Remember the activities, events, and crafts they get excited about. These aren’t just for parents to hold on to the memories. This is also for kids to have something they can look back on later in life and smile at who they used to be.

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[bctt tweet=”Hold on to these moments with these DIY summer memory books for kids. #kidcrafts” username=”diyadulation”]

DIY Kids summer memory books Materials

Foam Scrapbooks
Stickers
Markers (Sharpies work best on the cover, but washable markers will also work)

Step 1

Let the kids decorate the cover of their memory books however they want. Younger children may need more hands-on help from you.

Step 2

Have each child write his or her name and the current year on the back of the front cover. (You can do this for them if they are unable to write yet.)

Step 3

Throughout the summer tape keepsakes and pictures into the book. You can also have the child journal periodically about their days and activities. This is the part to let his or her creativity shine!

Tips:

For toddlers, you can have them draw pictures, write in memories for them, or both!

These are a great place to put things that you get on vacation like ticket stubs or things you find camping.

It is that simple to create this summer memory book with your kids. It is also one of the closest ways you can get to hold on to these fleeting moments. This is an awesome activity for summer fun and an incredible keepsake that they can look back on for years to come. My kids are already crazy excited and all we have done thus far is decorate the covers! Keep all the fun coming on our Summer page!

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If you’re like me, one of the reasons you look forward to vacation is because of it is the one time of year that you know you’re going to get to read. I love getting lost in a story and frankly will read the good, the bad, and the boring. However, I don’t want you to get stuck on vacation with a boring book so I’ve put together this list of the top 10 books to take on vacation.

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Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen

This is an absolutely hysterical ready! Essentially it is about a woman’s revenge on a telemarketer, but oh, my gosh, I laughed so hard!

A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

A Quick Bite is a romance novel full of adventure, love, and humor. It is an easy and enjoyable read. My favorite thing about Lynsay Sands’ vampire novels is her unique take on the origin of vampires. She is the only author I have read with a scientific explanation on the mythical vampire.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

This is an exciting suspense novel about the disappearance of two 7 year old girls. It will definitely keep you guessing on the edge of your seat. Incredible read!

Autumn by David Moody

In case you didn’t know, I’m a horror junkie. Movies, books, comics… I love it all. This is a fantastic zombie horror book! David Moody is able to capture the confusion and danger of a world turned on its end. This is the first book of the Autumn series but they are all great reads!

Starters by Lissa Price

In this futuristic mystery a war has killed everyone between the ages of 20 and 60. The children have no rights and most of them have no money or home. This forces some of them to try to earn money by renting out their bodies to Enders (the seniors with power and wealth). The company renting the children has a more insidious plan, however.

The Paper Marriage by Susan Kay Law

This is a novel that delves into the tough choices in marriage. The main character’s husband has been in a coma for 12 years of their marriage due to a tragic car accident. This is a great story about faithfulness and healing.

Because I Remember Terror Father I Remember You by Sue William Silverman

This is a gut-wrenching memoir about Silverman’s sexually abusive childhood and subsequent survival. It is guaranteed to make you cry but also give you hope. It is an excellent and emotional read.

The Game by Monica Hughes

Reprinted in 2010 with an updated title and cover, this is another futuristic novel where young adults are disposable once they have left school. The world is a bleak and strictly controlled place where impoverished citizens are forced to scavenge. One group of friends is offered a chance to make money by playing a virtual reality game that soon turns deadly.

Appointment with a Stranger by Jean Thesman

This is an older book so it is only available in paperback, but it is a terrific read. The main character is saved from drowning by a mysterious stranger while staying with her grandmother. Although no one in the small town knows the stranger she continues to be drawn in deeper and deeper by him. I have read this so many times, my copy is well worn and loved.

False Memory by Dean Koontz

It seems that most people fall on one of two sides of Koontz. They either love all of his works or hate them. I, of course, am the exception in that while I enjoy a few of his works, I am not impressed with his entire repertoire. False Memory, however, is an incredible read. I couldn’t put it down. It is one of the best mysteries I’ve read.

Check out more summer ideas, fun, and recipes on our summer page!

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We will always lose our mothers too soon. There is never a time that we will be ready for our mother to leave us, no matter what the circumstances. Unfortunately, too many of my friends have lost their mothers in childhood or as young adults. My heart breaks for them. I cannot fathom what it is like to receive the news that your mother is no longer in this world. My mom and I are freakishly close and being a mother myself, I know that NOTHING could ever break the bond between a mother and her child. So to all the daughters without their mom this Mother’s Day, whatever the reason, I want you to know these things below.

Flowers on journal with text overlay - An Open Letter to All the Daughters without Their Moms

[bctt tweet=”An open letter to all the daughters without their mom #loss #openletter” username=”diyadulation”]

Professional Photo of Elderly Couple

She Sees You

She sees your struggles and your triumphs. When you cry to her and wish her arms could just hold you in that moment, she hears you. Her love is enveloping you in an amazing embrace even if you can’t feel it.

Girl Walking away from stage holding trophy

She Doesn’t Want Perfection

You will always be perfect in her eyes. Don’t worry if you make mistakes. She did too. We all do. That is a part of life. Mistakes teach us, even the ones we continue to make over and over. And guess what, you are still perfect to her. She wants you to know that your mistakes do not define you. Your mistakes are molding you into exactly the woman you are supposed to become.

Pregnant woman in a swimming pool

She is Proud of You

She is proud of you. Even your smallest accomplishments, from choosing a healthy meal over that delicious cake or buying your first house, are moments of pride. They are all amazing triumphs in her eyes. She sees and has always known the amazing woman you are growing to be. Even when you are doubting yourself, she doesn’t. Her faith and pride in you is without end.

Selfie of 2 smiling women

She Loves You

This cannot be said enough. Whether your mom said it constantly or almost never, it was, is, and always will be there. It transcends our understanding and comes in many forms but your mom loves you. Always. Period.

It is never easy to live through the loss of your mom. It doesn’t matter if you know it is coming or if the loss is completely unexpected. I can remember the devastation I felt at receiving a call at 13 years old to inform me that my best friend’s mom had passed away during the night. It was heart stopping. I just sank to the floor with our phone still in my hand. That was how strongly it hit me even then when it was not my mom. The realization that it is your mother who no longer walks this earth is something that cannot be imagined, only experienced. Please take comfort in these words when you are wishing you could hear your mom’s voice one last time. Know that she is with you today and all the days of your life.

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