For the past few years, there’s been a certain summer date circled in my planner.

This box is typically filled with sunshine doodles, exclamation points, and bold letters spelling VACATION. While my husband and I eagerly look forward to sandy toes and ocean as far as the eye can see, the week leading up to this date is typically spent in a panic. We wonder whether the kids will even like the beach this year, if we packed enough diapers, and how three kids will fare in one car for 10 hours. As it turns out, however, as the kids get older, vacations get easier. READ MORE…

Jessica Bauer is a small-town girl raising her bunch in southwest Arkansas. Her cast of characters includes a husband of 11 years, three mostly sweet kids, and a flock of chickens. She blogs about them all at Life With the Bauer Bunch. Stop by to check out the good, the bad, and the funny in motherhood. You can also find her hanging out on Facebook and Instagram.