Author: thefamilyo

Trampoline Safety: Adding Pool Noodles to the Springs

The trampoline is the ultimate kids fun plaything! When we picked one up on Craigslist, it was free and … old. Meaning, it doesn’t have the fancy net, padding or ladder that you see on all the new tramps. How to make it safer? Pool noodles!

You can use pool noodles to cover the springs and that helps a ton when trying to keep the kiddies safe.

It was really quite simple for me and my husband did the dirty work 🙂

I used about 20 pool noodles and cut them into 7.5″ sections. I was going to then slice them horizontally so they could slide on. However, I changed my mind after considering the fact we have 3 boys that would love to pop them off for whatever-reason. We kept them whole and just slide them on each spring. Ouila, safe, cute and soft!

I used noodles from the dollar store so this cost me roughly $20, not bad for the hours of entertainment it provides. Not to mention the fact that it is the only thing besides swimming that truly wears them out.

I also like to jump and I have such fond memories of sleep outs, jumping and just gazing into the sky, I loved doing that so much. Day or night.

Next we need to figure out how to make them obey the 1 person at a time rule. Hmmm….

June 13, 2025
Fortnite Monopoly is Here!
Fortnite Monopoly: The Board Game I Actually Love Playing

Our family loves Monopoly. Well—let me rephrase that. My family loves Monopoly. I, on the other hand, have what you’d call a complicated relationship with it.

Growing up, we played three board games religiously: Risk, Aggravation, and—you guessed it—Monopoly. I have fond memories of those game nights, but Monopoly always drove me a little nuts. To me, it feels like it’s all luck. Whoever circles the board first and scoops up properties ends up steamrolling everyone else. Some people love that strategy. I mostly just sigh and hope someone flips the board before I do.

That said, my family? Obsessed.

Besides Monopoly, we’re big into board games like Beat the Parents, Family Trivial Pursuit, and Chatter Matters. And yes—we collect Monopoly sets like it’s our side hustle. Currently, we own:
- Mario Brothers
- Pokémon
- Game of Thrones
- Monopoly Electric
- Classic Monopoly
We also love playing Fortnite together as a family, so one day I randomly searched “Fortnite Monopoly” and just about fell out of my chair when I saw it was real. YES, PLEASE!

Here’s the twist: I actually love playing this one!
It’s fast-paced, fresh, and nothing like traditional Monopoly. We played three games in under an hour—and no one ended up bankrupt or crying. ?

The rules are different from any version we’ve owned. You choose your Fortnite skin (there are tons), and instead of buying properties, you battle for locations. You can build walls (just like in the game), and you roll an action die to pick up bandages, crosshair attack other players, or drop a Boogie Bomb to mess with everyone else. It’s chaotic fun—and not at all slow or luck-based like the original version.

And let’s be honest—any game that gets my kids off electronics and around the kitchen table for some laughs is a big win in my book. We clear the table and head straight to Tilted Towers. My boys give it two thumbs up, and surprisingly, so do I.
June 6, 2025
Toasted Italian Sub with Meatballs
Let me set the stage: my whole family is obsessed with three things—bread, cheese, and meatballs. So what could possibly go wrong with a toasted Italian sub? Absolutely nothing. And let me tell you—it was amazing. This sub disappeared faster than my patience during a homeschool math meltdown.

It was a chaotic week, and I needed something fast. While darting through the meat section at the grocery store, I spotted pre-made meatballs. I’ve never bought them before—I’m usually a make-it-from-scratch girl—but I was on the clock and willing to experiment.

I grabbed:
- A loaf of fresh-baked French bread
- A jar of marinara
- Some Parm Romano cheese
- And a bag of five-cheese Italian blend (because go big or go get takeout)
🔥 How to Make It:

These meatballs cook in about 15 minutes—just simmer them in a saucepan with your favorite sauce until they’re heated through and nice and tender.

I sliced the loaf lengthwise so I had one big top half and one big bottom half. Then I ladled the meatballs and sauce all over the bottom half of the bread like I meant business. No skimping.

Next up: cheese. I used about 2 cups of the five-cheese Italian blend, and I don’t regret a single shred.

Baking instructions:
- Bake open-faced at 375°F for 7 minutes
- Then put the top on and bake another 5 minutes—or until you reach your personal level of toastiness (a very real setting in my house)
When it’s done, slice it into individual servings and try not to burn your fingers stealing the first piece.

💯 Family Verdict:

My family are meatball sub connoisseurs and they inhaled it. The meatballs were flavorful, the cheese was perfectly gooey, and the whole thing just hit the spot.

My husband immediately requested a homemade version—with my sauce, bread, and meatballs from scratch. Fine. Twist my arm. 😏

🧾 Budget Breakdown:
- Total cost: $12
- Served: 5 people
- Prep + cook time: under 30 minutes
- Sanity saved: invaluable
This one’s definitely going in the “last-minute dinner that doesn’t feel like it” hall of fame. Bookmark it, try it, and stay tuned—my homemade meatballs (and possibly my secret sauce) might be making an appearance soon.
June 5, 2025
Time for the Summer Bucket List

It is that time of year! Let down your hair, or in my case, put your hair in a perpetual messy bun and don’t worry too much about it. Picnics, playgrounds, trips, friends, ice cream, watermelon, late dinners, bright evenings, I LOVE SUMMER.

It is the best time for families to let loose and dig into some real family fun. It doesn’t need to be fancy, planned or even expensive. For the past few years, I have finally started writing down everything we want to do for good ole summer fun. It is our Summer bucket list. The kids look forward to making it each year and are always making mental notes of activities they would like to add to the list.

This year I picked a few places that cost a little more than a few bucks, some super cheap and some are my favorite – FREE!

All of the locations are located in the Denver Metro Area or the nearby foothills of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

List of places and links:

Wildlife Animal Sanctuary – I have not ever been here but have wanted to go for several years now! They have every kind of wild animal you can think of and it is not a zoo type setting. It is a very unique place. A few animals they have are lions, bears, leopards, camels, fox, coyotes, alpacas, bobcats, and emus.

Mini Golf near our house – we scored a Groupon for unlimited rounds, plus on Wednesday nights they have all you can eat hot dogs, a boys dream!

Lakeside Amusement Park – Another Groupon score is to a local and historic amusement park, Lakeside. We love going there, it’s $40 for 4 unlimited ride passes. So many great things about Lakeside, one HUGE benefit? You can bring your own food in! That equals huge savings!

Soda Lakes – This is a beach at a local lake. It is a city run park so it only costs $5 per car. You don’t feel like you are in the city, it is the outskirts right before the mountains. There is a beach with a playground, flush toilets, snack bar and boat rentals. There is also SO MUCH more to do here. Bike trails for miles, fishing lakes, bird watching and more.

Jumpstreet is a great place to cool off in the summer. Always a hit with my kiddos.

White Fence Farm – An amazing family restaurant! You have to see it to believe it. They also have the very best fried chicken in DENVER! It is situated on a farm right in the suburbs of Denver. There is a petting zoo, a playground with a super cool treehouse, a creek, a tire swing, a duck pond, an arcade, a 2 story slide, a dance floor, an antiques store… Seriously can you believe this list!? We love this place. Not only do you eat good but you can buy all kinds of neat stuff!

Heritage Square / Miners Adventure Land – Another Groupon score. This place has amusement park rides, paddle boats, climbing walls, a human maze (my fave), water walkers, bungee tramps, and a carousel. Also, the world famous Alpine Slide, I have such great memories as a kid of that crazy ride! There is also a main street you can shop, grab coffee or ice cream. Sadly, a lot of this place is going to be demolished next year. All the great family places always disappear 🙁

Tiny Town – A must-see and go-to for all. This place is charming and cute. Kids LOVE it and you even buy tickets for the mini-train around the ground. They have a picnic area and playground. Bring your own food or buy it from the snack bar. We usually pack a lunch and then grab an ice cream from there.

Mile High Flea Market – Great place to roam around, eat yummy street food and grab some great buys! The kids always find something they ‘need’, I like to buy produce there and my husband makes sure we don’t bring home too much stuff. They also have amusement park rides and a huge slide.

Hiwan Homestead Museum – such a wonderful place to spend an afternoon in the mountains. Read all about the history here. There is one main house and several other buildings. All historic and restored by Jefferson County. The other buildings include a print shop, blacksmith shed, playhouse (kid’s love it), a bedroom, a store front and other treasures along the path. The main house is gorgeous with multiple staircases and even a chapel! You can take a guided tour, they are free. You can picnic there and take a hike around. After, we always go into town (Evergreen) and eat at Beau Joes.

I need to add a few more, the Denver Zoo, the Drive-In, Idaho Springs day trip, and Puzzah.

Can’t wait to start checking these off! It is time to enjoy time together and do super fun things!

What’s on your Summer Bucket List?

May 29, 2025
My Go To, Everyone Loves, Cookie Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Do you love chocolate chips the way I love chocolate chip cookies? I love them so much that I have tried tons of recipes with variations on ingredients. Let me tell you that this is the best recipe I have ever come across. I got it years ago from my favorite recipe site allrecipes.com

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies submitted by Clarice Schweitzer

Easy recipe:
- 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup chunky peanut butter
- 2 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars; beat in peanut butter, egg and vanilla. Combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute before removing to a wire rack.

ENJOY! These chocolate chip cookies are soooooo good dipped in milk or coffee. They are sure to quickly become a family favorite. These are also so easy you can throw them together for potlucks, get togethers, etc.
May 23, 2025
Mrs. O’s Cheez-It Chicken Recipe
When I was growing up, my mom worked full-time—yet, without fail, she had a hot, homemade dinner on the table by 5:30 every single night. I still don’t know how she pulled that off. Seriously… cape, tights, the whole superhero package.

When I worked full-time, I cooked too—but not every night, and it was just for me and my roommate (aka my sister). She cooked a lot too, so we made it work. But Mom? She was next level. She always found a way to make something delicious with whatever was in the pantry. That stuck with me.

I hope my kids grow up remembering home-cooked meals the way I do—made with love and a little resourceful magic. That said… my kids? Picky. And yes, I’ve played short-order cook more times than I’d like to admit because I refuse to let them go hungry.

But this chicken? This recipe? A straight-up miracle. Every single one of my kids loves it. No whining, no trade-offs, no cereal fallback dinners. Just clean plates and happy faces.

And the best part? It’s only three ingredients.

Mrs. O’s Famous Cheez-It Chicken

You’ll need:
- 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1½ cups mayo
- 3½ cups Cheez-Its (crushed)
Instructions:
1. Cut chicken breasts into 1½-inch strips.
2. Crush Cheez-Its in a blender or food processor to your preferred crumb size.
3. Add mayo to a bowl, stir in chicken strips until well-coated.
4. Using a fork, pull out each strip, coat in Cheez-It crumbs, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet (don’t skip the parchment—unless you enjoy chiseling chicken off a pan).
5. Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes, then flip and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Let cool for a few minutes and serve it up. I like to pair it with mashed potatoes, mac ‘n’ cheese, and green beans—because if we’re going for comfort food, let’s go for it.
April 12, 2025
Easy, Delicious Smores Waffle Cones
This dreary January weather has me dreaming of warm sunshine, sandy toes, and summer traditions. So I’m throwing it back to one of my favorite memories to chase away the winter blues.

Every summer, our crew heads to Horsetooth Reservoir, where we stay in cozy lakefront cabins. It’s become a beloved family tradition—20 to 30 of us packed in with beach towels, card games, and enough snacks to feed a small army. The kids spend hours playing on the beach while the adults catch up over cards and campfire stories. It’s pure joy.

Before each trip, I do what every snack-loving mom does—I hit Pinterest. And this year’s find? S’mores Waffle Cones.

Yes. You heard that right.
S’MORES. IN. WAFFLE. CONES.

It’s basically everything that is good and right in the world:
- Waffle cones
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate
- And a ridiculous amount of candy
We went all in with:
Oreos, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Cherry Nibs, Peanut M&Ms, chocolate chips, and pecans.

We let the kids go wild filling their cones, then wrapped them in foil and placed them over the fire. A few minutes later—magic.

Messy? Yup.
Ooey-gooey? Oh yeah.
Absolutely delicious? 100%.

The kids were thrilled, the adults were sneaking seconds, and yes—we’ll definitely be making these again. Next time, we’re throwing gummy bears into the mix. Because why not?

Summer can’t come soon enough.
January 7, 2025
Christmas Memories

Growing up, Christmas was magical, no denying it. To start the giddy, months-long anticipation, one of my favorite activities was going to my Grandma’s house and going through her huge JC Penney and Sears Catalogs. I absolutely loved going through every page of the girls clothing and toys. I would circle everything I wanted! It’s funny to think that as time went on, each year I would limit myself more and more. One year, I could only circle two things on each page, then I did it, I made myself choose only 1 thing from each page. So funny to recall.

I remember going to the mall with the entire family, splitting up at times to shop for each other. We would see movies, play in the arcade and grab some food. Such good memories. Stores would be decorated to the hilt along with the corridors of malls, the big stores still put up huge window displays back then. I remember there would always be a school choir singing in the middle courtyard too.

My parents would buy us several smaller gifts, clothes and then they would always have one huge present from Santa. The big presents were always out and assembled by the tree Christmas morning. I loved walking out to that! One year I got a Holly Hobbie Play Kitchen, HH Lunchbox and HH Colorforms!

Found some pictures, you have to love the internet! How cool is it that we can see pictures of toys from our past?

photos courtesy of eBay

Another year it was a yellow banana seat bike with handle bars strings and everything!

Here is a picture I found courtesy of Pinterest

I loved that bike! Then I left it out in the driveway overnight and someone stole it! A lesson my kids hear about often!

Family

Christmas Eve was always spent at my Uncle’s house, then Christmas Day was split between the two sets of Grandparents. It’s interesting, I just realized this tradition still lives on in my own family now. Christmas Eve always involved traditional New Mexican Spanish fare. It is a night filled with family recipes passed down from generation to generation. Carne Adovada, Frijoles con Chicos, Tortillas, Sopapillas, Pork Green Chili, Posole and more! Christmas day was always about traditional American fare, ham, roast, potatoes, veggies and pies. I remember my dad’s mom used to always put out the most beautiful ribbon candy. I haven’t seen that yummy delicacy in years.

I am very grateful for the precious memories I have and I pray that I am giving my children special memories to hold onto and to bring to mind each Christmas Season. Our Christmas’ of late have been about celebrating the true reason for the season, Jesus. His birth was the hope of God coming down, in the flesh, the only king to truly humble himself. It is my prayer also that my children carry on that tradition with their families. Pausing, praising, worshiping and thanking God for all we have and all He has done.

December 13, 2024
Giving Thanks

So many wonderful things about the Fall but the one that causes us to pause, be reflective and spend time with loved ones is the best. Thanksgiving brings up so many warm and fuzzy feelings. I love it, it is so necessary to stop and reflect and be thankful to God for everything He has given us. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” For me, unfortunately thanks is not my natural reactions to most situations that I am not completely happy with. Thanksgiving makes me stop and truly ponder all He has done for me.

This year we invited my in-laws over for an intimate late afternoon dinner. Last year was my first time hosting Thanksgiving. I really enjoy it, who knew?

I did my research and picked the very best recipes I could find. The In-Laws brought the turkey and stuffing. I made all the traditional favorites (links to recipes at bottom of post) like mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and rolls.

I set the table with stuff from my craft bin, not too shabby…

Ooops, missing a plate!

For the kids table, I made it super special with an Iron Man tablecloth 🙂

The kids each received a gift bag with Thanksgiving stamps and a homemade stamp book, also a personalized turkey for a place holder. The adult placeholders were simple construction paper tents with dollar tree leaves.

All in all, it was a fantastic day with yummy food, football and family! Plenty of reasons for giving thanks.

Recipes:

Pioneer Woman Creamy Mashed Potatoes – made these the day before, just like the recipe

Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole -I added a few marshmallows to mine

Green Bean Casserole

Homemade, Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce – made the day before, this was a HUGE hit

Best Sugar Cookie Cutouts Recipe – I made these with the kids 2 days before Thanksgiving

And last but not least…. Brown and Serve Rolls from Kroger. I did not have the courage to make homemade bread. These are always a hit with everyone so why mess with perfection?

All in all, it was a great day! I am thinking of trying to pull of a Christmas Dinner next. Stay tuned!

November 20, 2024
Super Yummy Beef Enchiladas

Go to Recipes > You’ll Want This One.

As I’ve said before, I cook for picky eaters—#MyKids. There are only a few meals that every single member of my crew will eat without complaint, and this is one of them: Beef Enchiladas. Well… technically it’s Cheesy Beef Green Chili Enchilada Stacks—but who’s got time for that name?

Let’s just call them Beef Enchiladas and move on.

They’re a little different than your standard rolled-up, red-sauced version. Truth is, I only like my mom’s red chili. She makes the ultimate savory-spicy red chile that I haven’t figured out how to replicate (Mom, if you’re reading this—help a girl out!).

So instead, I make mine using our generations-old family Pork Green Chili recipe—and let me tell you, it does not disappoint.

Once that chili is simmering and smelling like heaven, brown your ground beef. Then it’s time to build those stacks. Cut up about 10 corn tortillas into strips and layer them across the bottom of your baking dish.

January 10, 2024