Advent calendar

How does your family count down to Christmas?
There is so many different ways to help your family count down to Christmas. A few years ago we started doing a Family Activity Advent Calendar with our kids. Basically everyday the kids find the day on our homemade calendar, and in the little pocket there will be a picture or words that will show the activity for the day. Usually it is something simple that we might do anyways like baking cookies or decorating the tree. We also usually do some crafts and special family outings like a sleigh ride through the light display and ice skating. This is such a good way for families to spend time together during Advent and RELAX and enjoy the season!

I'm Back!

Wow, so it was around this time 1 year ago that I started blogging, and quickly fell off the wagon! Now here I am again. There is something about winter that draws a person inward, reflecting on life. Winter always seems to be a time for slowing down, spending time at home with family and quiet. I guess living in the north we have quite a long winter at hand. So here I am again and alot has changed in 1 year. We have been blessed with another baby born this October, Taylor is 2 and Avery started Jr.K in September. We are busier than ever and it seems everyday passes so quickly amidst laundry, meals and the never ending cleaning! We really try to live everyday deliberately and that is what I really feel my writing will be about. An attempt to capture the everyday moments of our life.

I have so many ideas of what I want to share, but to get back into the swing of things I think I will start with a simple daybook. I am going to try to post every day (don't hold me to it) except weekends.

Thursday Dec.9 2010

Outside my window... we had a big snowfall last night, only our second of the season which is rare for here.

I am thankful for...my family's health. Reid (our newest little) has been dealing with various issues since his birth but now at 2 months they are finally improving. There is nothing worse than having a sick child, and my heart is with a certain friend who is going through that right now.

I am thinking about...all the things I have to write about. Can't wait to get this blog going again. I am inspired everyday by some of the blogs I read and I hope I can do the same for others.

From the kitchen...this afternoon the kids and I will be baking some cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange that I do every year with friends. Can't wait to get going on yummy treats for Christmas!

I am creating...I had the best of intentions on hand making the majority of my Christmas gifts, but with being pregnant and then having Reid at the doctor constantly, life got the better of that plan! I did pick up my knitting needles for the first time last night since starting a baby hat for Reid that never got finished. I have started on a purse...not sure for who, depends how it turns out. More posts on this to come!

I am going...shopping. Need to finish up some gifts this weekend. Every year I try to be totally done Christmas shopping before Advent so I can relax and enjoy this season but this year it seems to have snuck up on me.

I am hoping...that Reid's latest blood work comes back with positive news!

I am reading...
Screamfree Parenting- Hal Edward Runkel
The Island- Elin Hilderbrand
I have been reading these books for what seems like forever! I always like to read before bed, but having a new baby to take care sleep is VERY important right now. I always used to read one book at a time, but I am finding now with only small snippets of time to read and so many books that interest me I am going to have to rethink that. I am going to try reading many books at once as the mood strikes. Anybody care to share their reading reference? Oh and if anybody ever has a book to recommend please comment or email me!!

I am hearing...quiet. I know in a house with 3 small children how can that be? Taylor actually napped today (SHOCK) and Reid is sleeping peacefully in his swing. Avery is also having "quiet time" Life is good :)

Around the house...toys everywhere, laundry to fold and put away. I don't have a problem getting the laundry done...it just never seems to make it back away! Anybody else hate this part as much as I do?

One of my favorite things...my new Ipad! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I can't wait to get the camera and keyboard attachments for it so I can blog from it. Ahhh...as I think about it I get all smiley :)

Plans for the rest of the week... Singing with Liz tomorrow morning for Taylor (wonderful music program for babies-preschoolers for free at our local parent link center)

Picture thoughts

Love it...Hate it- Jan.29

LOVE it...having a routine to our day
HATE it...when the kids wake up before 6 am

LOVE it...seeing the sunrise
HATE it...the darkness of winter

LOVE it...going to enriching creative programs with the kids
HATE it...going to unstructured play time with WAY too many kids

LOVE it...when my kids behave out in public
HATE it...when other people don't discipline their kids

LOVE it...clearing out things we no longer need... I hate clutter
HATE it...junk mail

LOVE it...going for nature walks with the kids
HATE it...driving with the kids

LOVE it...my mommy friends
LOVE it...sewing
LOVE it...scrapbooking
LOVE it...reading

Think I LOVE IT....knitting.

Simple Woman's Daybook- Jan. 21

Outside my window...it's dark, very dark. I am still finding it really hard to make time for blogging. I'm just waiting for the kids to go to sleep and then I think I will do some sewing or maybe go through the stacks of library books sitting in my bedroom.

I am listening to....PURE SILENCE. It is wonderful!

I am thankful for...being able to wake up every morning and spend the day with my kids

I am Reading...well just finished "Discipline that last a life time- Dr. Ray"

From the Kitchen... tonight for dinner I made steak and veggie fajitas. They were very yummy, but of course Avery wouldn't touch the veggies.

I am thinking....about all the wonderful waldorf inspired things I want to be able to do with the kids as they get older.

Towards rhythm and beauty...we definitly have a nice rhythm going and I find it calms everybody down. We also moved our nature table to be more of a nature shelf on top of our dining room hutch and it works much better.

I am hoping and praying...that Avery makes progress in his speech therapy

Around the house...business as usual!

One of my favorite things...the library. I can't count how many $ it has saved my. Everytime I find a book that I want to read I just request it through the library and usually within a few weeks I have it!

A few plans for the rest of the week...going over to a friends house tomorrow morning for a playdate, and then a mommy's nite out. A bunch of us our getting together and making valentine's day bows for our little girls. Should be a lot of fun!! Hoping to do some thrift store shopping this weekend :)

A picture thought I'm sharing...

Avery wearing his new apron I made him, and helping mommy make muffins

From the weekend

We had a great weekend relaxing at home. I FINALLY set up my new sewing machine that I got for Chirstmas and went to work!! My first project was a little kitchen apron for Avery. I will also make matching ones for myself and Taylor.

I also had some leftover Turkey frozen from Christmas so we went to the Farmer's market Sat. morning to get some fresh veggies to make Turkey soup. The house smelled wonderful all day. Taylor and I also made some homemade buns to go with.

Heavy Heart

As we go about our day here today...we do so with a heavy heart. Still on my mind today is the people of Haiti.
They have not left my thought or prayers. The kids are too young to know what is going on.
This morning we went to playgroup and it was very crowded. Avery had a complete meltdown. Normally meltdowns get me pretty frazzled, but today I just kept thinking of how grateful I was that my child was safe and having a meltdown over not wanting to share a toy with another child. That was our biggest problem today...a meltdown. We are SO SO SO lucky. I keep thinking about all the children of Haiti and it really is making me thankful for what I have.
Today I am going about the day slower more methodically and really just trying to cherish my children. Life can be fleeting and we need to live while we have it.
I hope everyone is holding their loved ones close today and everyday.

Simple Woman's Daybook- Jan. 13

Outside my window...a beautiful winter day. Partly cloudy sky, birds flying, the trees look beautiful covered in fresh snow

I am listening to...CNN coverage of the earthquake in Haiti. It is so heartbreaking and overwhelming

I am wearing...comfy sweats and wrapped in a blanky. It is the kids nap time right now, so I am having some downtime too. Who cares if the bathrooms are dirty right??LOL

I am thankful for...my family and all that we have. I am so thankful that my husband works so hard everyday so that I can stay home and raise our kids. I am so lucky that we live in a nice house and never have to worry that me might be hungry or unsafe. We are blessed with everything we could possibly need.

I am reading... A world without end- Ken Follett. I really like reading books that take place in the middle ages.

From the kitchen...I got a great deal on shrimp so I have been making stir-frys, risotto, and pastas. YUM!

I am thinking...about the poor Haitian people suffering after the massive earthquake. I am praying for them and wondering what I can do to help.

I am getting ready to create...pillowcases for my bed and aprons for the kids and I with my new sewing machine. I just have to find the time to set it up and figure it out!

Towards rhythm and beauty...we are having a great day today and are working on lots of art projects. The kids did a finger painting today.

I am hoping and praying...for all the people in Haiti and everyone affected by the earthquake

Around the house...I should really clean the bathrooms!!

One of my favorite things...enjoying the everyday moments with my children.

A few plans for the rest of the week... playgroup tomorrow and hopefully some more nature walks.

A picture thought I'm sharing...

This is the aftermath of a 2 1/2 year old and a 1 year old finger painting!!!!

Wondering how bloggers do it?!!

So I haven't written in almost a month. Ooops not my intention when I started this blog. I guess starting something new at Christmas time when your life is already hectic is probably not a good idea. Anyways I am going to try and give it another shot. My goal is 3 times a week right now.

Alot has been happening here...

POTTY TRAINING
Right before Christmas and before we were taking an 8 hour car trip Avery decided he finally wanted to give potty training a try...of course!!We did a little bit over Christmas and when we got back from holidays I immediately started putting him in underwear...and since then almost 2 weeks he has been great!!!! I never thought it would be that easy..I was prepared for months of fighting and accidents, and am so thankful that we waited until Avery was ready. I think it made all the difference.

CHRISTMAS
We stayed home for Christmas and boxing day which was absolutely wonderful and then we left for a visit with family for a week. As usual when we make into a big city buy all the things we can't get here! LOL. We were completely packed for the drive back and even had to ship some furniture we bought. I bought a new hutch to match my kitchen table as I was in desperate need for some more storage!!! It took me a week to get the house back in order

Now that we are finally getting back into our routine...the kids and I started setting up our nature table. Right now it just has an old silk blanket, our white candle to remind us that the light of spring will come and some stones and a twig from our morning walk, but I am looking forward to adding to it as we find things. We also have a basket of winter book underneath.

I am thinking my nature table is probably to big but I do like its location right in front of our big living room window. I might end up changing it but for now...it works. ( Don't mid our big fat cat Zirk in the shot...he really really didn't want to move)