Favorite Cold Weather Cozies For The Entire Family

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Have you ever wondered what the day in a life of a large family may look like? How about when you throw in fostering and farming as well? ‘Crazy’ may come to mind and you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. But because we live in Minnesota and it gets cold; we do our best to lay pretty low in the winter.

We do the typical snowy weather activities but we also incorporate family movie nights, reading books under cozy blankets, and sitting in front of the fireplace. Today, I’m sharing a bit about a ‘typical day’ as well as some of our favorite cold weather cozies.

A Little Bit Of Chaos, A Little Bit Of Calm

The days are shorter in the winter and I definitely feel like I don’t get enough done most days. A typical day in our life looks like:

• 2:15 am: Mike gets up, grabs a quick breakfast, and then heads outside to start farm chores.
• 4:30 am: Morning milking time. One of the kids meets Mike in the barn to help.
• 7:00 am: I get up, shower, and get ready.
• 7:30 am: If it’s a visit day, I wake up our foster son so he can have breakfast and get dressed before we leave.
• 8:00 am: I wake up our foster baby, change and feed her as well. (If she isn’t already awake that is. She still gets up 1-4 times a night so we’re not on a tight schedule yet with her.)
• 8:10 am: The ‘middle 3 kids’ get up and grab some breakfast so they can get started with homeschooling. (If any of them helped with morning milking, I do let them sleep in till 10.)
• 8:25 am: Time to leave for visit. It’s a 25-30 minute drive each way.
• 9:00 am: I drop off our foster kiddos and head back home.
• 9:30-11:20 am: I help the kids with their schooling and prep lunch.
• 11:25 am: Time to head back into town to pick the kids up.
• Noon: I pick up our foster kiddos and everyone back home has lunch.
• 12:40 pm: We get back home and reunite Ruby and our foster son. They typically get right into playing as they always miss each other when apart. (They are 1 year and a week apart in age. So ‘almost’ 2 and ‘almost’ 3.). If it’s nice out, we go outside for a bit.
• 1:30 pm: Our foster son goes down for nap.
• 1:30-3:30 pm: I try to get some work done while he’s napping (if baby allows it). Blogging, cleaning, checking school work, etc.
• 3:30-4 pm: Foster son typically wakes up and it’s a madhouse. Lots of noise, singing, playing, and chaos. It’s basically a free-for-all until supper time. If the weather is nice enough, we also head outside during this ‘free play’ time.
• 4:30 pm: Time for evening milking, where the kids rotate who helps my husband.
• 5:30 pm: Supper time for whoever is in the house.
• 6-7:00 pm: Play time for the kids and another clean up time for me.
• 7-7:30 pm: Bath time for the toddlers and baby if they need it.
• 7:30-8:30 pm: More play time, story time, and family Bible before bed.
• 8:30-9 pm: Bedtime for all. If anyone isn’t tired, they can read in bed until they are. (Personally, I’ve taken to sitting in warm bath for an hour after the house is quiet and it’s been pure bliss and the perfect way to wind down a long winter day!)

On non-visit days, our mornings are a bit more chill. School time is bumped earlier. I also spend 30-45 minutes reading to the toddlers. And we have free play (indoors or out).

Our Favorite Winter / Cold Weather Cozies We All Love

Being in Minnesota, we see all four seasons each year. And while some winters are mild, others offer us full fledged blizzards. It’s the place where ‘the air hurts my face’ some days. (Not entirely sure why we live here….other than because it’s where we’ve both been born and raised. Otherwise, it would not be my first choice!)

Outdoor Play Is A Must For The Kids

Because our weather can be so extreme, it truly doesn’t matter how young you are. If you live in Minnesota, you need a full winter get-up. That includes snow pants (or snowsuit), warm winter jacket, cozy hat, insulated winter boots, and a really good pair of mittens. It’s extremely important to make sure all extremities are safe as there are days where you can get frost bite in just minutes. When it comes to outfitting our youngest kids, I ALWAYS turn to Stonz.

The Perfect Essentials

For toddlers and kids up to age 8, Stonz Snow Mitts are the way to go (also available on Amazon). These award-winning, waterproof mitts are made from durable 600D nylon with 3M Thinsulate insulation and a polar fleece lining which means they offer extreme warmth and comfort.

Parents everywhere will appreciate the ‘mitt’ design as I love not having to fight finger holes trying to secure tiny little fingers separately.

Featuring an easy-on, stay-on design with adjustable toggles and a wide opening cuff, these mitts are perfect for cold weather, no matter how mild or extreme. Additional features include reflective details for safety, a fleece nose wipe, and a PU grip palm panel for added durability.

Now, I’ve learned from experience that if my feet are cold, the rest of me will also feel like I’m freezing. So I LOVE putting my toddlers in Trek Snow Boots for Toddlers. They allow us to enjoy so much more time outdoors! These have been my favorite kids snow boots for years now and it’s easy to see why.

• Extra warm & dry design: These boots are made with insulated and windproof 600D nylon. No weather will be too cold for outside play!
• Made for the harsh winters:  With the wind-proof and water resistant upper and non-removable plush fleece lining (THANK YOU!), little ones can now enjoy hours of snow play, sledding, snowman building, and winter fun.
• The lightest toddler winter boot in the market: Kids hate heavy winter boots! That’s why the Trek features their signature lightweight soles that make it easy to play and run in the snow. You will be so surprised when you feel these lightweight boots for yourself! They are AMAZING!
• Safer to play in: Your little adventurer will stay safe even when playing in slippery surfaces. The Trek – Toddler boasts has the industry standard for skid resistance and the standard for sole abrasion.
• Easy for toddlers:  Featuring an extra-wide opening that’s ideal when they’re learning to dress on their own, I love how these boots allow for independence.

Finally, a soft warm hat is also a must. These soft pom beanies are perfect for babies, toddlers, and kids. It’s the go-anywhere hat that features a double-layered, 100% acrylic rib knit for extra warmth. Plus, moms everywhere appreciate that it’s machine washable.

Warm Up Once Inside

The first thing we do once back indoors is heat up a kettle of water for hot chocolate! It’s such a great treat that helps warm from the inside out. And as that’s warming up, we also heat up our Warm Pals buddies.

If you’re not familiar with the Warm Pals brand, check them out today! Friendly and functional is the name of their game. They are the cozy microwavable lavender scented plush toys that kids (and adults) love.

These irresistibly cute stuffies are warmed in the microwave for 60-90 seconds and offer comfort immediately. The calming lavender scent is the perfect relaxing combo to the warmth. The best part is that they come in a variety of fun snuggly animal options and available on Amazon for shopping ease.

PRO TIP: I’ve even used them to ‘warm’ my baby’s bed because the warmth and scent lingers when I remove and lay baby down!

Snuggle Up In The Coziest Pajamas Around

Come bedtime (or whenever we feel like having a pajamas day), there’s one brand that’s become my go-to for everyone: Kyte Baby! It’s time to take your loungewear and pajama game to THE NEXT LEVEL. Designed for ultimate comfort, they offer options for the entire family — all made from their irresistible ultra-soft bamboo material.

My favorite tops are from Kyte. Ruby’s favorite twirl dresses are Kyte. The kids’ favorite pajamas are Kyte. <—- See a pattern?! This is one brand that if you haven’t yet dived into, this is the year to do it. Every single Kyte Baby piece is high quality, durable, ultra comfortable, and offers the maximum stretch we all desire. Plus, you just can’t beat the gorgeous colors and patterns. I have noticed that the toddlers sleep much better on the nights we put them in their Kyte pjs. And my new pair became a quick favorite too. I just can’t say enough good things about this brand so check them out over on Amazon or their website.

Tell me, how do you survive the winter? Any tips? Ideas for fun?

Related Posts

For more details on Stonz Winter gear, check out my full length Stonz Snowsuit and Boots Review. And if you live in a state that gets a lot of snow, check out these 15 Fun Ways Kids Can Enjoy Playing In The Snow. We’re also sharing if Kyte Baby is worth the hype over here. And all of these brands are so awesome, they even made it into our Best Gifts For Preschool Girls Gift Guide. Finally, if you’re interested in farming, check out what the typical day in the life of a dairy farmer looks like — where I share about my husband’s life as a farmer.