Author Archives: Jeff Bogle

Family Fun Week in Review – July 2nd – June 9h

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We in the Family Fun section hope you and your gang had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday. Hopefully you all spent the time enjoying the outdoors, eating good food and watching brilliant firework shows while basking in the glow of our collective independence. The family fun writers took a bit of time away from their own vacations and holiday merriment to grill up a few tasty treats for you, the Families.com reader. Lauri dishes out some last minute holiday ideas. Even though America’s birthday has past, there is no reason why her ideas can’t be put in motion throughout … Continue reading →

Little Cezanne

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Being a dad who believes whole-heartedly in the worth of exposing young people to the arts, it is no surprise that my three-year old relishes the chance to work with her watercolors at the kitchen table. Allowing a child to express themselves openly and honestly through art, be it with paint, pencil, crayon, Legos or in song, is one of the more remarkable and rewarded gifts a parent can give to their kids. There is of course the immediate return on investment, the work of art itself that will stand as a testament to that moment – that exact place … Continue reading →

Fun on a Whim!

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Surprise your kids with a spontaneous getaway! A couple months back I mentioned a terrific vacation planning idea utilized by my brother’s family – a spontaneous and surprise trip to Florida. While a four day, on-a-whim vacation is likely out of reach for many families, including my own, a surprise, unplanned day trip or exciting activity certainly need not be. The past three days included two of such adventurous for my gang. On Sunday morning, we decided to head north a couple hours and spend an afternoon in Lower Manhattan. The weather was picture perfect and we figured our toddler … Continue reading →

Playing with Fire on the 4th of July

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We are decidedly not fireworks people. I have never set fire to anything more grandiose than a sparkler on the 4th of July. I do, however, take pleasure in viewing firework displays – both the amateur local and impressive, highly structured professional varieties – and do so from a far. This holiday, our gal is really enjoying the mini-light shows some folks in the neighborhood have been putting on during the evenings leading up to America’s birthday. We will sit out on the driveway with some milk and cookies and look skyward for the glittering flashes of red, white and … Continue reading →

Dad’s Losing It: It Was Good While It Lasted

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On Sunday, my wife and I decided to drive up to New York City to spend the day in Lower Manhattan, walking around Battery Park and cruising around New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the surrounding waterways. It was a beautiful day in the Big Apple, a sunny and breezy 73 degrees – simply amazing weather for a July day in the Northeast. I couldn’t pass up the chance to be out on the water with my family enjoying such perfect conditions, so we made the drive (in record time – one hour and forty five minutes from … Continue reading →

Planets & Stars

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When I was young, I slept under dozens of small glow-in-the-dark star stickers. I loved staring up at my faux-night sky and dreaming of all the far away places I would visit and all the zany adventures I would have, as I grew taller and older. It goes without saying then that I was in heaven as my little gal gleefully expressed her desire to affix illuminating stars above her bed. She received a solar system mobile for her 3rd birthday and once her new big girl room was complete, she helped build it and hung it up in the … Continue reading →

Dad’s Losing It: On The Road

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I am traveling on business today. I am in Memphis to visit my client and launch a new service. The time away from home gives me time to catch up on sleep and offers the chance to eat a multi-course upscale dinner, on the company’s dime (which always tastes good!) Before I left town, my family of four spent Sunday afternoon and early evening in Philadelphia, walking for nearly three hours along Kelly Drive. This picturesque stretch of waterfront is named for famous former resident Grace Kelly and takes visitors along The Art Museum, Waterworks complex and historic Boathouse row. … Continue reading →

Frugal Fun with Train Loving Kids

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This great idea comes courtesy of a neighbor of mine. She is a stay at home mom with one school age boy and a darling two-year old girl. This mom, like many parents, is always looking for inventive and free (or at least very inexpensive) family fun. She recently shared with me a great lunchtime activity that she had just recently enjoyed with her two children. It was around 11 a.m. on a Saturday and the kids were getting rather bored with being in the house. Her answer to this childhood midday malaise? She packed up some peanut butter and … Continue reading →

Dad’s Losing It: Oh What a Week!

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The new baby has been sick with a terrible cold. She is barely able to breath through her nose. It is frightening even for experienced parents. My toddler has had her own issues recently as well. She’s enjoyed a middle-of-the-night fever and has had trouble sleeping through the night. Needless to say, the last 6 days have been a struggle. My eating has been atrocious, which is aiding my drowsy mental state. I have really been out of control, snacking constantly, picking up candy bars at the grocery store checkout lane, buying a ½ gallon of Chocolate Peanut Butter ice … Continue reading →

Family Fun Week(s) in Review – May 28th – June 15th

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While Jeff was off becoming a daddy for the 2nd time, Lauri has been doing an admirable job of providing stellar FUN ideas for families this summer. Jeff is back full time now and the result had been a bounty of cool tips and activities to occupy and entertain your entire gang! Summertime is a popular time of year for Family Reunions. Lauri share some helpful ideas on keeping both young children and teenagers happy and pleasant at these family gatherings. While traveling to reunite with long lost relatives, you are bound to encounter some delays. You have to find … Continue reading →