Uncategorized Archives - Small Things Are Big Things

April 20, 2017 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival – GO NOW!!

Last year was my first time at the Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival and now I want all the berries! The Boysenberry Festival is basically a month of celebrating all things boysenberry.
And it’s good. Really good…completely worth every extra calorie.

Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival

You guys! A Tasting Card is $25 and it covers your food for the whole day.

For. The. Whole. Day.
And if you have littles, they can probably even split a card and be filled up. Here is what you get: Boysenberry Pizza, Boysenberry Ravioli, Boysenberry Buffalo Wings, Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs, Boysenberry Fry Bread, Boysenberry Pana Cotta.
Our favorite is the buffalo wings… can you feel the joy?

boysenberry BBQ chicken messy chicken boysenberry meatballs boysenberry pizza at knotts boysenberry ravioli eating at Knotts

Something for the whole family…

boysenberry wine

Going to Knott’s Berry Farm was on our California Bucket List. And now it’s checked off. That’s a bit sad for me. I really love this place. I have the best childhood memories of picking out geodes and then watching them get cut, and visiting all the historical areas in the western ghost town. I guess I have always been destined to move to the wild west of Texas!

one room school house

My older kiddos are just aging out of Camp Snoopy and we are having a blast transitioning to the “big kid” rides. (Remember when Eli went on Supreme Scream last year?!? All the hearts!)
This year we did more roller coasters then finished out the day at Camp Snoopy. Also all the hearts!

so scared huff and puff

Something I really love about Knott’s is waiting in lines.
What. What? (You’re thinking)
Yes, the lines are rad.
Stay with me: You have your kiddos undivided attention. You can scrolling your Facebook feed or you can actually be chatting it up with your little humans. You can people watch together. Plan out the rides you’ll be going on. Be present. It’s fun. Promise. And it’s even funner when you are snacking on a boysenberry treat. Trust me. More Food = Less Breakdowns.

in line at knotts in line

We closed down the park and finished our night with the pana cotta and the chocolate dipped cheesecake.

chocolate dipped cheesecake Boysenberry Pana Cotta

We walked out of the park with full tummies and happy hearts. The kids are growing up fast.
Oh so fast.
And I can’t stop time. I’m not even sure if I would if I could, but I do know I’d like to savor every small moment. And this just might be the last time we are at Knotts for years.
Thank you for all the memories Knott’s Berry Farm. You are a California staple, and will always hold a special place in the Lawson Family’s heart

Thank you knotts

December 31, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Free Winter Coloring Sheets – Inspired by the Cube

We had so much fun at the Discovery Cube this winter! I made these fun FREE winter coloring sheets in honor of the Science of Gingerbread exhibit and the Winter Wonderfest exhibit.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Download these free coloring sheets here, here and here! Or click on the pictures above.

November 30, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Hiking with Irvine Ranch Conservancy {& The Discovery Cube}

I really love living in California. From top to bottom, the whole state is filled with beauty. But I’m always a little surprised when I discover some of the most beautiful places are right here in Orange County!

This happened on our last visit to the Discovery Cube when we went on the Helicopter Tour. In this exhibit, you soar over Orange County in a virtual helicopter and fly from the mountains to the sea, over the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. The whole tour, I was thinking how I wanted to visit and hike the featured locations. And what do you know, there is a whole page on Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ site which shows the “flight path” and dates when you can visit the locations!

We went on a hike in Round Canyon which is an OC Parks proper and part of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks – on the flight path, it’s between Orchard Hills and Limestone Canyon. It’s a state and national natural landmark!

We chose a sunset family friendly hike. I can’t even begin to tell you how many amazing programs the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offer for the community. There is literally something everyday! You can see the full schedule on Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Let’s Go Outside site. (Click here.)

You can search by date or area and each activity has all the information you need to plan your day. I recommend clicking the “Family Friendly” box in the search as well. And always check the minimum age for the hike (sometimes it’s 12 y/o and it would stink to get there with your 7 y/o and have to leave). The example below is for a Wilderness Access Day on December 5th. I’ve pointed out the important bits for the family thing.

This hike was completely led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer naturalists.

Volunteers people!!

And they were amazing!
We started our Round Canyon hike with a little safety lesson and our guide handed out a fun scavenger hunt so the kids could look for plants and animals along the way.
(Print your own here!)

We found 36 stink bugs…

And there was so much beauty…

Especially watching the sunset and walking in the twilight. It felt like we were miles away from a city.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many amazing programs the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offer for the community. Check their full schedule here. I think a great New Year’s resolution would be to take a hike every month! Small Things make the biggest difference in our families.

My kids still talk about all the fun they had on this hike. Taking time out of our busy schedules isn’t always easy, but it’s so worth it!
(Blurry photo… don’t care.)

Don’t forget to print out the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Scavenger hunt for your next hike!

April 2, 2013 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Autism Awareness Month {Light it up BLUE}

It’s Autism Awareness Month!

I don’t know about you, but it scares the heck out of me that the numbers of autistic kids is raising exponentially! Not scared I may “get” an autistic kid, scared that something is causing this and no one has a clue what it is. Praying and fasting this week for research to yield results quickly and for the many parents who are in the midst of the autistic battle everyday. May your victories be more than your defeats and may the peace of the Spirit refill you daily.

October 20, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Original Ombre

Happy Fall Friends!!

September 12, 2011 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Where to get a Kids Tux and Flower Girl Dress

(Mondays I like to share something I got. We all like to share a good deal, splurge, unique find or fun activity. If you got something awesome (or lame) recently and blogged about it, be sure to leave me a link to the post in the comments!)

It’s a huge honor to be a part of a wedding but you’d be fibbing if the $$$ of actually being in a wedding didn’t cross your mind at least once! Myself and all 3 of my kiddos were in my sister’s wedding and I was on the search for some inexpensive tuxes for the boys and a flower girl dress for Cora Jane. Where to get a Kids Tux and Flower Girl Dress??

My train of thought…

I found out (through my mom), buying a tux was just about the same price as renting (around $80).

If I bought, I figured I could sell it afterward.

Then I had of obvious idea of just buying them used on ebay.

Then I came across a seller called designerkidsfashion888.

A BRAND NEW 5 piece tux in Eli’s size for $23 and one for Cy for under $20.

Yes, please!!

I thought, even if the tuxes are horribly made they only have to last for about 4 hours.

They came with pants (satin strip down the side), a white long sleeved dress shirt, bow tie, vest and jacket (with satin accents).

They looked ADORABLE and were decently made…

The boys were taken care of so I thought I would do a quick ebay search for the flower girl dress as well.

I discovered a different store called capesforalloccasions.

A BRAND NEW flower girl dress for $14.99!!

Um, yeah!!

And the customer service at this shop is A-Mazing! I ordered the dress in ivory and it came with an ivory bow. I was just going to make the black sash. Later I thought I would just check the shop in case they had sashes for cheap. They did (7.99)! So I shot them an email just saying that I didn’t know they had the color selection when I bought the dress, and they sent me the black sash for free!

All 3 adorable outfits lasted the whole day/night and we aren’t easy on clothes around here!

They looked awesome during the wedding…

…and through pictures…

…and on the dance floor – Eli even caught the garter… (we are that dorky dancing family cutting a rug the whole night)

…even survived dinner!

I threw those suckers into the washer and dryer and they washed up great!

They can be worn to all the formal children’s events to come. HA.

Or if you want to borrow them, just let me know!

Us moms gotta help each other out, right!

But if I don’t have your size and you need something fancy for a wedding or family pictures or Christmas or whatever. Now you know were to get them!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

###

Baby update:

I’m due in 8 days but I’m feeling like the baby is cozy in there. Maybe another 9 day late baby like Cora Jane?? Then I’ll have 17 days. Either way in about 3 weeks we’ll be baby central! I’m really really really itching to know the gender now!! Brad and I think boy and the kids think girl!

August 24, 2011 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Meringue Bake Shop {Wedding Cake Alternative}

(Mondays I like to share something I got. {I know it’s Wednesday but for some reason this didn’t post Monday! It’s my blog, I’ll do what I want.} We all like to share a good deal, splurge, unique find or fun activity. If you got something awesome (or lame) recently and blogged about it, be sure to leave me a link to the post in the comments!)

I love Meringue Bake Shop (except for the fact that I’m a bad speller and the word “meringue” is definitely a 10th grade level word!)

My sister got married this month and opted for cupcakes instead of the traditional wedding cake. Of course our only choice was Kristen at Meringue Bake Shop! Kristen had so many awesome ideas!

Here is the final outcome – Day and night views (for fun)….

Flavors were Pink Lemonade, Red Velvet, Funfetti, and Caramel. I may or may not have had one of each.

I can’t even tell you how yummy Kristen’s cupcakes are. REALLY!!!

But don’t take my word for it…

Kristen is at the Great Park’s Farmers Market every Sunday selling her yumminess. We’ve been once, and as soon as beach season is over we’ll be making the Great Park our Sunday Family “thing.” (One of the main reasons being the cupcakes… REALLY!!)

Here’s what we picked up the last time we went.

Now wipe the drool off your keyboard.

Check out everything Meringue Bake Shop has to offer on their site, Meringue Bake Shop and the Meringue Bake Shop blog and don’t forget to fan them on Facebook too!

September 3, 2010 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Walking with Dinosaurs

We had A-MAZ-ING seats, about 4 rows from the front. The kiddos were mesmerized …

Can you blame them? Look at the stage! GIANT dinos, and plants that grow before your eyes. (I colored the flowers. We took over 100 pix and didn’t get any of the flowers!)

Cyrus even gave the show a thumbs up in his sleep.

Though I guess it doesn’t take much to “mesmerize” my kiddos…

If you want an AWESOME night out with the family and guaranteed smooches from your kiddos check out the show. Walking with Dinosaurs will be at the Honda Center till September 9th and then over at the Staples Center from the 9th till the 12th. walking with dinos 12

On the way out it was just the right amount of chilly for a Lid!

July 25, 2010 by: Kara Noel Lawson

On this day last year…

Today I’m flying home from Colorado.

It’s my 30th birthday.

I don’t mind.

I’m flying with my family whom I love.

To a home I love.

I ended last year’s birthday post with my lil’ family taking me out to lunch.

Now find out what happened the rest of that day…

We were sitting at Red Robin because the birthday girl (ME!!) was craving a Bonsai Burger (yummy!). It was right after some law passed saying Nutrition Facts had to be displayed at restaurants.

Um… yeah.

I didn’t enjoy my Bonsai burger & steak fries very much knowing I was eating over 3000 calories! I mean I could have guessed it was about that much but actually seeing it in print ruined it for me. 🙁

Just before we finished our meal I noticed Cora Jane had a contemplative face… like REALLY intent on something.

Um… yeah.

She was concentrating on a HUGE poop blowout! As in poop pouring out the back of her diaper, onto the high chair and pooling (yes pooling) onto the floor!

We have never seen anything like it. Or since then!

I did a quick clean up, made a beeline to the car for damage control while Hot Hubby mopped the rest with strict instructions for the manager to boil the high chair.

We still had errands to do but Cora Jane’s clothes were… um… yeah, DONE!!

We took our naked baby into Walmart to get anything that might cover her up for the rest of my birthday outings.

We ended up finding the cutest dress ever!!

For $5.00!! You gotta love that place, even if you hate it!

Happy Birthday to me!!

I’ll let you know how the flight was 🙂

I got this adorable dress at Walmart, wanna share something you blogged about this week? Add to our “I got it at…” carnival in the comments below: