This post is sponsored by FAGE, however all of the thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Summer is officially here. My kids are all out of school, and for the next couple of months it seems we can finally slow down a little and take a break from the morning hustle we have become so accustomed to during the past year. As much as I live for having some sort of a routine for our family, there really is something to be said about just going with the flow and seeing where the days take us.
I’ve gotten some questions lately about what a typical day looks like for me now that I have all four kids home for the summer. So, I thought I’d give you guys a little peek into what a day typically looks like for us. My strategy each day is to keep my kids busy. Not in a sign-them-up-for-a-million-things kind of way, but more so with the goal of keeping them busy and entertained so they don’t get bored, and at the end of the day they are exhausted kind of way!
Lilah and Theo are my early risers and both tend to be up each morning before 6:30. They’re actually pretty good about playing together until Max and Ella wake up, which is usually around 7:30. A few weeks ago I started offering up a yogurt bar for breakfast and it was such a big hit that it has become our go-to way to start the day. I love this option because it’s such a fun way to let your kids get creative with different combinations and it’s super easy since there is no actual cooking involved. The base for our yogurt bar is always FAGE Total Plain 2% yogurt. It’s protein-rich, creamy, contains no added sugar, and we all think that it’s delicious! It’s a great-tasting and nutritious way to start the day and as a bonus FAGE is made with only milk and live active yogurt cultures. Those active cultures are so important. In addition to FAGE yogurt, I always offer a wide range of fruit toppings. Some of our favorites include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and even dried cranberries. For crunch I set out some granola, and to sweeten things up a bit, I like to include honey. Yogurt bowls are such a great way to get your kids to eat their fruit! FAGE yogurts are available in three fat varieties (FAGE Total 5% Whole Milk, FAGE Total 2% Low-Fat, and FAGE Total 0% Nonfat), so there’s an option for every lifestyle. I’m a big fan of the nonfat variety and the 2% for myself.
Once we’re done with breakfast, it’s time to get everyone dressed and ready for the day ahead. Somedays this means that I have errands to run and they’re along for the ride. I always try to get these in before Lilah needs to go down for her nap. While she naps, the bigger kids and I try to get outside to play in the yard, or we do some sort of craft or activity to pass the time. If they’re playing well independently, I use this time to do some tidying up or to catch up on some work. When she wakes up, it’s time to go!!! This is the time when I usually head to the gym and the kids get to play in the kid’s area. Lucky for us our gym also has an amazing outdoor pool, so when I’m done working out, sometimes we head straight there. Other days we skip the gym and pool, and head to a park to run around and burn off some energy. After a couple of hours of this, it’s time to head home and get Theo down for a nap and Lilah down for nap number two. This time is what I like to call “chill time” for my older two. They’re allowed to watch a show, read a book, or play while I also take a breather, have a little FAGE yogurt for a snack, and then try to get more done around the house. As you can probably imagine, the laundry and dishes are pretty constant with a family as big as ours. Occasionally in the afternoons I like to bake. Banana bread is a big favorite in our house, so I’m sharing our go-to recipe below. Spoiler alert, it includes FAGE Total yogurt, which is the key to keeping it moist and adding a little boost of protein!
One Bowl Banana Bread
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup FAGE Total yogurt
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbs ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour a loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas, then whisk in the sugar and oil.
- Add the eggs, yogurt, and vanilla and blend well.
- Add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda , and salt. Stir to combine with wet ingredients.
- Evenly spread batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven, and allow to cool before removing from pan.
After the little kids nap, it’s back outside to play until it’s time to prepare dinner and my husband gets home. I live for these longer summer days where we can be outside later and sometimes even take a family walk after we eat. After all of that, it’s on to baths/showers and bedtimes and you better believe that once all of the kids are in bed, Mike and I aren’t far behind. These days are long and exhausting, but they’re also so much fun!
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids in the summer?
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