The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the chaos inside the house has just begun. Lunches need to be made, breakfast scarfed down, clothes found and thrown on, and everyone ushered out the door on time. Finding a morning routine that can help everyone in your family stay on track and make mornings run more smoothly is one of the top items on most moms' wish lists.

Don't Curl up for Bed Before Things are Sorted for the Morning
Kids should have their backpacks packed, clothes/uniforms washed and sorted and know where their shoes and additional gear is before they go to bed at night. Even kindergartners should be responsible for getting organized before bedtime. Lunch money or lunchboxes can often be organized the night before a school day, too. Mom and dad can find their car keys, look at the calendar and schedule to sort carpools and after school activities and get themselves organized before bed.

Keep the Television and Computer Turned Off
Waiting for a television show to finish or to check just one more e-mail means less time together as a family, and you'll try to compress a 30-minute morning routine into a 10-minute time span. Keep technology off in the morning, you can save a radio to listen to the weather or morning news, but that's it. Your family's morning routine will go off without a hitch if the technology is turned off.

Insist on Eating Breakfast Together
Allowing everyone to grab and go on their own might seem like the best choice on a hectic morning, but in fact, it may slow you down. Rather than everyone getting in each other's way, and no one getting a healthy breakfast, put mom, dad or an older sibling in charge of breakfast on any given morning. Scrambled eggs and toast for the whole family don't take a lot of time and allow everyone the opportunity to sit down and eat together.

Get up when the Alarm Clock goes off, or When you First Wake up
One of the hardest things about getting out of bed in the morning is fighting the alarm clock. But the longer you fight it, the less time you have in the morning and the more pressure you'll be under. Instead, consider waking up a little bit earlier and don't fight the alarm clock when it rings, either. A smooth morning routine is more likely if you simply realize that you have to get up. Don't fight it by trying to sneak in five more minutes.

A successful morning routine for families helps everyone's day get off without a hitch. Get ready ahead of time, keep the TV off, eat together and get up when the alarm clock goes off. Mornings that start off right turn into great days!

Warmer weather brings to mind the visions of picnics. Who wouldn't want to escape to a lakeside getaway for the afternoon? Unfortunately, even on the weekend, this isn't always possible for busy families. After all, you have to get the food ready, make the trip, plan activities, etc. But, if you have a simple menu everything else seems to fall into place. This week we'll discuss a picnic menu that takes minutes to prepare.

Tuna and White Bean Salad
Serves 4

2 cans of solid white albacore tuna, drained
1 can of white beans, drained and rinsed
1 small red onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
½ cup of green olives, chopped
¼ pound fresh mozzarella, cubed
½ cup fat-free Italian dressing

1. Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl and chill until ready to pack your picnic basket.
2. Serve with crusty French bread.

Stone Fruit with Honey Mint Dressing
Serves 4

4 peaches, sliced
4 red plums, sliced
4 black plums, sliced
4 apricots, sliced
½ cup honey
¼ cup lemon juice
½ tablespoon of mint, chopped fine

1. Place the fruit in a sealable bowl and mix the last three ingredients to form a dressing.
2. Top the fruit with the dressing and chili until ready to pack.

Both of these recipes can be made the night before the picnic. All you have to do is freeze a few water bottles and store them in the picnic basket so that they keep your food cold. Don't forget to also pack some juice boxes for the kids and maybe a bottle of sparkling wine for you and your spouse. To make things even easier, pack the salad and fruit in single serve containers. Also, you can hold off on adding the dressing to the fruit to see if your children like it or not.

A picnic doesn't have to be a long, drawn out affair. You can quickly prepare delicious recipes that are healthy and make for wonderful picnic fare.

Spring is tentatively showing itself in many parts of the country. (Not where I live; we just got almost 12 inches of snow.) For many families, this means the end of indoor recreation activities and a chance to get back outside and enjoy nature. You can help your kids learn to enjoy the outdoors -- and make great family memories -- by keeping a nature journal.

Nature Journal as a Family
One of the fun things you can do together is head outside and keep a nature journal. The National Wildlife Federation offers some helpful hints for making a nature journal. Possible subjects are included, and this can help you get a good start on what to do for a successful nature journal. You can look for such items as plants, animals and rocks, as well as listen to the different sounds being made. The wind in the leaves or the sound of a stream can make great subjects for the nature journal. Older children can learn how to identify different plants, animals and rocks that are common to your local area.

A nature journal should include observations about the things heard, seen and even smelled. Have your children describe their experiences. Older children can write for themselves, and you can help the younger children. Encourage your children to draw pictures of what they have seen, using crayons or markers. You can even take pictures and add them to the nature journal. Have your children see how close they can get to drawing what is seen in the picture. You can add pages as needed, using a three-ring binder or keep the nature journal in a series of notebooks.

Remember, though, that spring can still be a little chilly. Make sure that you have jackets and hats, and are dressed appropriately for the weather. Good walking shoes are a good idea. Once you start your nature journal, you can make a new journal for every season.

Though a parent's day is fraught with challenges, one of the hardest parts of any day is finding the time to accomplish your "must-do" tasks. Making dinner is often something mothers complain about, because by the time dinner time rolls around the kids are getting tired, hungry, and dad isn't quite home yet to help out. Rather than plop your kids in front of the television or computer, finding ways to involve your kids in the dinnertime routine benefits everyone in the family.

Plan Ahead
Don't leave the defrosting or the meal selection until 6 p.m. During breakfast or the car ride to school, talk to your kids about what you could have for dinner. Get everything you need ready in the morning, if possible, and make a list of things you might need to buy at the store or prepare ahead of time. Letting your children get involved in the meal planning and preparation can help mealtimes become less stressful for everyone.

Divide up the Responsibilities
Young children can't chop the veggies or use the food processor, but they could easily be taught how to set the table or fetch items for mommy from the refrigerator. Older children can make the salad, while younger children can help get the crescent rolls ready for baking. Give everyone a job for dinner, every night.

Set up a Second Kitchen
If your children are interested in cooking themselves, consider investing in a wooden kitchen accessory kit all of their own. Young children can set up their own kitchen and pretend to cook right alongside mommy or daddy. They'll be occupied, within your sights and entertained without the use of television or video games.

Rather than plop your kids in front of the TV or computer, consider finding ways to involve them in the dinnertime routine. Not only will you get to spend some quality time with your kids, but you'll teach them the importance of helping around the house.

Being the parent of multiples means that your parenting responsibilities are multiplied by the number of kids you have. When your multiples are babies you have two, three or four times the diapers, bottles and clothing changes as you would if you had only one baby, and as your multiples grow, your responsibilities only increase. One of the issues that you are bound to have to deal with is homework. Homework issues can range from just getting your multiples to do it to helping your multiples overcome learning disabilities.

Getting Homework Done
One problem that most parents have to deal with is getting their kids to complete their homework. Most kids are going to procrastinate and wait until the last minute to start their homework and complete assigned projects. While you can get by with this strategy, it puts a lot of stress on your kids and reduces the amount of knowledge that they are able to retain.

You can help your multiples be better students and more relaxed by setting up a homework schedule. It is best to get homework done as soon as your multiples get home from school. It is also better if they distribute large projects and studying over several study or work sessions. This makes larger projects more manageable and studying more effective for long term retention.

Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities come in several varieties. Some learning disabilities are mild and only require a few modifications to study habits, while other learning disabilities are severe and require lifestyle and environmental changes. If one or all of your multiples are having ongoing problems with their academic progress, it is a good idea to talk to your pediatrician or to your kids' school about screening them for learning disabilities. Once the problem has been identified, a strategy can be developed to help your kids to regain control of their learning.

The most common learning disabilities are going to include cognitive delays and dyslexia. Both of these conditions can be overcome by supplementing classroom education with one-on-one tutoring and assistance, as well as by learning new ways to approach homework. Your school can be a great source of information on how to help your multiples overcome their learning disabilities, as can child development centers.

There are a number of delicious treats that you can make with your children for Holidays . And while you can't take homemade treats to school anymore, it is possible for you to make treats for neighbors and friends. Baking is a great family recreation activity. It creates memories and encourages family bonding, teaches children a valuable skill and can be educational in terms of math and reading practice. Here is an easy, tasty recipe that you can easily do with your children:

Chocolate Caramel Bites
These treats are simple to make and good to eat. You need:
60 pretzels (square works very well)
Unwrapped Rolo candies
M&M candies (plain milk chocolate -- in the respective Holiday colors)

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Get out a baking sheet or baking dish and lay the pretzels inside, along the bottom. You can line the bottom with foil in order to minimize any possible mess. Put one Rolo candy on top of each pretzel. (Have the kids count them as you go.) Next, place the baking sheet in the oven and heat for three or four minutes, until the Rolos start to soften and spread their shapes. Bring out the baking sheet and carefully place one M&M in the center of the melted Rolo.

Let the candies set. This can take an hour at room temperature or 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Leave the candies on the banking sheet during this time. Remove the candies from the baking sheet when they are set and put them in a sealed container. You can also use festively colored cellophane bags tied with ribbon and pass them out to friends and family with cards made from construction paper. (The cards can be made while you are waiting for the candies to set.)

This treat can be made for Easter, the 4th of July, Valentine's Day, Halloween or Christmas. Simply buy the M&M candies in their special holiday packages.

Is there anything better than a soup and sandwich on a cold evening? Chances are you probably serve this meal several times each winter. Truth be told though, tomato soup and grilled cheese, while classic, can get old after a while. Are there ways to update the grilled cheese and make it something different? Sure. In fact, here are a few recipes to get you started.

Mexican Grilled Chicken and Cheese
Serves 4

8 slices of white bread
4 tablespoons butter, softened
12 ounces of southwestern seasoned chicken strips
4 one-ounce slices of pepper jack cheese

1. Spread the slices of bread with butter.
2. Add a slice of cheese and three ounces of chicken to each sandwich.
3. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides.
4. Serve with tortilla or taco soup.

Italian Grilled Cheese
Serves 4

8 slices of Italian bread
4 tablespoons of butter, softened
4 one-ounce slices of whole mozzarella
4 ounces of turkey pepperoni
½ cup marinara sauce

1. Spread the slices of bread with butter.
2. Add a slice of cheese, one ounce of pepperoni and two tablespoons of marinara sauce to each sandwich.
3. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides.
4. Serve with Italian Wedding soup or minestrone.

Fruity Grilled Cheese
Serves 4

8 slices of French bread
4 tablespoons of butter, softened
8 ounces of low-fat strawberry cream cheese
4 ounces of strawberries sliced
4 tablespoons sugar-free chocolate sauce

1. Spread the slices of bread with butter.
2. Add two ounces of cream cheese, a quarter of the strawberries and one tablespoon of chocolate sauce.
3. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

These recipes are not only a different approach to a classic food, but they're something your kids will love. There are several ways to make your own signature grilled cheese. Best of all, you can easily incorporate your children's favorite foods to make something they'll truly love.

Every Monday night, families used to gather around the television to watch the continuing adventures of the Ingalls family in the TV show based on the Little House on the Prairie novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Today, it is truly a momentous undertaking to find a show that a family with kids can watch without cringing at least once. Those days may be gone, but this show itself lives on in DVD form, and there are always the original novels by Laura herself. Many a young girl still grows up reading these infinitely fascinating tales of the tough pioneer life and the extraordinarily inspiring way in which a young girl became an American icon.

This is where the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum comes into play. There are actually two different museums with Wilder's name, but only one, in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, where the stories take place. The museum near Springfield is perfectly fine, but the one in Walnut Grove has a Laura and Nellie lookalike contest every year, usually in July. You remember Nellie, right? That little blonde snot who tried to make young Laura's life miserable every episode. Near the museum, you can also visit the actual site of the home where Laura and family lived.

And then there's the Wilder Pageant, which is the highlight of Walnut Creek's year. The Wilder Pageant takes place during the summer and features a live performance starring all the favorite characters from the show. A visit to the Wilder Pageant is like actually watching the Little House on the Prairie TV show come to life as you get to relive some of the favorite moments of the stories of the Ingalls' family history.

And if that weren't enough, all Little House fans can actually shop at the Olsen Mercantile store for things like flowers, clothing, pottery and collectibles. Oh, and don't forget to make a visit to Nellie's Café. The yellow ringlets of the snotty little Olsen girl may not be atop the head that serves you, but it's a really fun place to visit.

Though pregnancy is an exciting and happy time in a woman's life, it still has its own fair share of ups and downs. From swollen feet to an ever expanding belly (and likely the rest of your body, too), getting comfortable may be one of the most difficult parts of your pregnancy.

Thankfully, clothing designers have realized that maternity clothing can be stylish, fashionable and improve your comfort level during pregnancy. By filling your wardrobe with a few maternity clothing basics, you'll help make your entire pregnancy a bit easier. By starting with your undergarments, you can assure that you get the support and comfort that you need where it counts the most -- close to your skin.

Start with the basics when selecting your pregnancy wardrobe. Purchase maternity underpants and bras, like the Nummies and Belabumbum lines. Nummies bras are also designed to serve as nursing bras, so it won't go to waste after delivery. If you need to purchase larger bras and underpants early in your pregnancy, consider leaving a bit of room to grow. You'll appreciate it when your third trimester is in full swing. Belabumbum also makes maternity swimwear -- a must if you'll be out in the sun during your pregnancy.

Add a belly wrap to your maternity wardrobe, too. Not only are these fashionable, but belly wraps, like those designed by bao bei, also offer increased belly support. For moms-to-be toward the end of their pregnancy or for women suffering from back pain during pregnancy, belly wraps can prove to be an invaluable addition to your wardrobe. Plus, they prevent unwanted belly exposure when your shirt shifts out of place.

Once you've got the basics of a maternity wardrobe in your closet, you'll be ready to make the move and expand your collection to pants, shirts, dresses and comfortable shoes suited for pregnancy. Dressing right can help make pregnancy comfortable and easy from the start.

One of the fun things you can do as a family is to build a snow castle together. It doesn't have to be very big (indeed, it can be on the scale of a sand castle), but the idea is to get everyone involved in a fun family winter activity. Here are some things to keep in mind as you build a snow castle as a family:

Testing the Snow
The first thing you want to do is to make sure that the snow is appropriate for building. You want to make sure that the snow adheres to itself. Try making a snow ball. It should easily hold together. If the snow is too powdery, the snowball won't hold shape.

Making a Snow Castle Plan
Whether you are making a snow castle or a snow fort, it is important to have a plan ahead of time. Make a drawing or map out in the snow what you will do. Have an idea of how large you want your snow castle, as well as the different shapes you will need -- and how many you will need. When building a snow castle, you will have to make the snow into rough brick shapes.

Building the Snow Castle
Assign different tasks, depending on the ages and abilities of the family members. Build your snow castle in stages to make sure it is done in an orderly fashion. If you are making a small snow castle, use the same buckets that your children have for playing the sand.

While building your snow castle, make sure everyone has the proper winter wear. Snow boots, warm gloves, hats and scarves are essential. When the snow castle is completed, you can have snowball fights, besieging the castle or simple go inside for fun. It can also be a fun idea to come inside the house and look online at some of the famous snow structures that have been built. Some of them are quite elaborate.

And, of course, you should warm up with hot chocolate.

It's the 'magic formula' that savvy parents have learned to live by; buying just enough clothing to get you through the season and making sure it will keep your baby comfortable and happy during the days ahead. Here are some tips for selecting the right outfits for your newborn:

Choose the Right Fabrics
A baby's skin is super sensitive, so you'll need to make sure they're not experiencing any allergic reactions to new fabrics and that the cotton or polyester blends you pick allow your baby's skin to breathe. Keep an eye out for any rashes or breakouts and read the material labels closely to reduce the risk of skin irritation.

Stock up on Day and Night Outfits
You can dress up baby in lighter clothes by day, but you'll need to layer things up or buy thicker clothing for bedtime. Temperatures can fluctuate considerably during any season, and your baby will be the first one to feel it; make sure they're plenty warm and comfortable with the right type of clothing throughout the day and don't be afraid to undertake an outfit change a few times per day if needed.

Buy Packs of Multiples
If you can find multi-packs of onesies, socks and other ensembles, you can easily save some money on baby outfits. Many brands now offer multiple packs for basics, so you can shave off a few dollars from the clothing budget without compromising quality fabrics and designs for your little one.

Go for the Poppers
Popper buttons on onesies, jackets and dresses are much easier to manage than traditional buttons. When the daily schedule demands several diaper changes, popper buttons allow you to get baby in and out of their outfit in a snap. Look for small details like these to save you time and energy during those busy days ahead!

Aim for the Six-Piece Closet
Newborns will grow out of every piece of clothing within a few months; you'll need to shop only for three months at a time, and if you're on a very tight budget, aim for just six pieces of clothing per season.

One of the most unique activities that you can participate in is snowshoeing. This is a fun winter family activity that can be accomplished by parents and children of a variety of ages. Indeed, snowshoeing is something that younger children can do. It has been said that if you can walk, you can snowshoe. It is a great opportunity to introduce your kids to fun outdoor winter activities. Additionally, snowshoeing can be a great forerunner to skiing. If you want to introduce your kids to skiing down the road, snowshoeing is a good start. You can even use poles to make it easier to get through the snow.

Snowshoeing can also be incorporated into sledding. Bring your sleds and use the snowshoes to help you climb the hill more easily. Then enjoy riding the sled downhill. In fact, bringing a sled is a good idea, since the kids might get tired after an hour or so. (And an hour is about right for young kids and outdoor winter activities.)

Also, it is worth noting (during these times of economic turmoil) that snowshoeing is also a relatively inexpensive. You can get pairs of snowshoes for between $100 and $300. Renting snowshoes is also inexpensive. Perhaps you should try snowshoeing as a family, and if you enjoy it, consider buying the shoes for outings down the road. Snowshoeing is often less expensive than skiing -- especially for larger families. And, of course, skiing can be difficult for the very young.

Another nice thing about snowshoeing, especially if you own your own shoes, is that you can go out near your home after a fresh snowfall. When you get snowed in, strap on the snowshoes and watch how your neighborhood becomes a different and adventure-filled place to explore. Plus, you'll be nearby so that you can go in and enjoy some hot chocolate or make some cookies when your adventure ends.

Anyone who claims that names don't matter has forgotten the trials of elementary school.
Inevitably, there was one child with a name that seemed made for torment and teasing.

For example, you may have had a sixth grade friend named Pearl ... and her last name was Button. And then there are parents who adopt celebrities' often peculiar baby name choices, or upon seeing their first glimpse of their completely bald son was born bald, parents might decide to name him Baldy.

For pregnant women, trying to decide what to name their baby is often filled with input from well meaning friends and family. There's always the in-law who says hopefully, "I'd love it if you named your baby after me." Your husband probably has his own views. And then, of course, there's the trend with celebrities to come up with unique baby names.

To ease the naming process, consider these tips:

Remember the importance of middle names. Choose a combination of first and middle names that go well together.
Consider the pros and cons of naming your child after a relative or friend (for example, you'll probably delight that individual while annoying others).
Evaluate the implications of acronyms for the first, middle and last names that you consider (would YOU want to go through life with the initials U.G.H.?).

In addition, beware of the "Name That Baby" party that's become fashionable. Typically arranged by a well meaning friend or relative, these gatherings are similar to baby showers with one major difference: the primary entertainment consists of guests coming up with suggestions for names for your baby.
The parties usually include a pink and blue beribboned room and the traditional fluffy cake decorated with miniature cribs and rattles. But the party games consist of playing a "name the baby" contest, and it's your baby who is supposed to be named.

Recommendation: be prepared. If you discover that what you thought was a standard baby shower party is a peculiar twist on Name That Tune, just nod, smile and say that you'll discuss all the suggestions with your spouse. In other words, take the gifts, write the thank you cards and don't risk having your child be nominated to a member of the Weird Baby Name Club.

Playing in the snow is one of my favorite winter family recreation activities. Unfortunately, in the depths of winter, it isn't always easy to get outside; sometimes it's just too cold! So on days like this, it is a good idea to think of some indoor family activities that you can play.

Educational Activities and Games
Especially on a snow day, family recreation can benefit the kids when it is educational. Some of the educational and brain building things that you can do together include:

• Visualization
• Matching
• Word games (for the older children)
• Drawing games (such as Pictionary)
• Reading aloud
• Creating stories

Playing educational games can help children enjoy learning, as well as keep them sharp. My husband and I like playing Cranium games with my son on cold days, because they have active portions, as well as different activities that require different creative skills.

Getting Exercise on a Cold Day
If it is too cold to go outside and exercise, it can be done in the house. There are workout videos for children, and it can be fun to put on workout clothes and do some exercising together. You can learn to enjoy cardio, yoga and stretching together as a family. This is also beneficial, since it provides a chance to talk about health habits. You can prepare healthy snacks together afterward.

Other indoor family recreation activities that can be enjoyable, depending on your family's talents and tastes, include holding an indoor picnic in the family room, creating and performing a play, making music together and playing board and card games. All of these activities promote family togetherness and can give you a good chance to build fond memories.

There are plenty of options for indoor family recreation. There is no reason to let inclement weather keep you from having good family fun.

Salmon is a great source of heart healthy fat. While you may enjoy salmon sautéed in olive oil with a side of steamed vegetables, your children may turn their noses up at this healthy meal. Thankfully, there are ways to make salmon more appealing to children. The key is use salmon to prepare foods and recipes they already love.

Salmon Sticks
Serves 4
1 pound of thick salmon filets
1 cup of flour
4 egg whites, beaten
2 cups of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons of ranch dressing mix
Cooking spray

1. Cut the salmon into sticks about 2 inches long and half an inch wide.
2. Place the flour and egg whites in separate shallow dishes.
3. In a third shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs with the ranch dressing mix.
4. Dip the salmon sticks in the flour, then the egg whites and the seasoned bread crumbs.
5. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and place the sticks in a single layer. Spray with additional cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees until cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Turn the sticks halfway through the cooking process.
7. Serve with a salad or baked French fries.

Salmon Tacos
Serves 4
1 pound of salmon, deboned and trimmed of skin
½ teaspoon of cumin
½ teaspoon of chili powder
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
Olive oil
Whole wheat tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Salsa

1. In a small bowl, mix the spices together and sprinkle them onto the salmon.
2. Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil and sauté salmon until cooked through and browned on both sides.
3. Use two forks to break apart the salmon and then top each tortilla with a ¼ of the salmon.
4. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa.
5. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

These recipes are only a starting point for introducing your children to salmon. Play around with this wonderful ingredient and discover more recipes your children will love. As they get older, they'll be more apt to eat salmon on salads and even by itself.