Some Sun Fun

Today was another incredibly beautiful sunshiny day! We found a park to romp around in. The kids needed to get out and be, well… kids!

We are also finding ourselves on a special tour of sorts. One that visits every rest facility *ahem* in all of Florida. My husband just waits patiently soaking up all of that vitamin D while shaking his head ever so slightly.

It has been another purposeful day.

Gators and Hot Tubs

Our adventure continues.

Today we spent a lot of time with alligators. They are a remarkably well-designed creature. I couldn’t believe how silent and still they were, and how they could sneak up on just about anyone. Truly, these are animals to be respected and feared.

After that, we came back to home-base. The kids went swimming, and we soaked in  the hot tub. It was after all, a balmy 70 degrees.

I’d say it was a very good day.

The Adventure Continues

The day was 70 degrees, windy, and sunny. It is December. Aaaaaah.

Our day mainly consisted of collecting shells and looking for wildlife.

We are having a lovely time.

Adventure

Here are some images from our current adventure.

Stay tuned for more!

Our Birthday Bee

Happy Birthday to our 10 year old girl.

I have no idea where those ten years went. I suppose they flew by because we were watching you grow. Time doesn’t seem to move when you are doing that. But oh how it is.

You are a true Red-head in every sense of the words. You have a passion and a fire that will never be extinguished. You bring me new challenges as a parent almost daily, and keep me sharp. You are testing your wings, and will learn to fly, but hopefully not anytime soon.

You have a unique innocence and a classic sense of style. I think you may have been here before.

Your love of books is astonishing, and your grasp on language even more so. I adore your poetry and art, and love that you now knit.

I can remember a time when you fit in my arms, and  when I look at you I can still see that baby. I also see someone who is almost as tall as I am and is very beautiful. Inside and out.

Your kindness is to be admired. If everyone were as thoughtful as you, the world would be a better place.

I love you so very much, and years from now, I hope you remember your childhood fondly. I will.

Happy Birthday Bee. May your wishes come true.

Sing a Song of Love for Julia

Today we celebrate our youngest daughter’s Birthday. Instead of reflecting on the day she was born, I want to think about the amazing person she has become. I wrote this for her.

Dearest 4 year old,

I enjoy everything about you. You are oh so dear to me. I cannot remember what life is like without you and don’t ever desire to.

You have an excellent sense of humor- even at just four years old. You make us laugh. Your comedic timing is impeccable.

You are thoughtful and caring towards your friends and family. You brighten my day with your giggles and hugs and your never-ending enthusiasm. You have so much common sense and such an ability to reason. It dazzles me, daily. You are creative and artful in everything you do. Even when noticing the frost on our window, you see the beauty in every crystal. Every flake. I appreciate you enlightening me on the magic of this incredible world we live in, just when I start to take it for granted.

I am proud to be your Mother, and love you so very much!

This is my Song of Love for Julia.

Happy Birthday!

Break

Coming up soon,we will all be taking a well-earned break. OK I use that term loosely for myself. Will I still be cooking, cleaning, tending, and preparing?
Yes.

But it will be somewhere Sunny!

To prepare, I have looked back to the last travel post on this blog for some tips (my mind cannot remember everything- really the whole point of this blog is to remember stuff for me).

To jog my memory, I will re-post my Tips for Traveling with Children.

• Activity books, blank pads, stickers and crayons all help little hands keep busy.
• Snacks are good.
• Gum (for the older child) and lollipop or crackers for the younger one to chew on when taking off or landing. Helps with popping ears.
• A few surprises always help. I always pack some “gifts” for them to open on the plane.
• Books to read.
• Card games. Nothing with little parts, Uno has saved us a number of times in the past, and will surely be there for us this time.
• Finally, some kind of electronic device ( DVD player or MP3 player, etc.) I usually save these for the end of the trip when everyone is ready to go crazy. Our older daughter loves books on tape, so we put a bunch on her MP3 player to keep her occupied.
• Oh, I almost forgot… A good attitude. It is so hard to maintain that one in long lines and stuffy planes, but it will make a HUGE difference. Whatever you feel, casts the mood for the day.

I have added a few new ones for this time around…

• Hand Sanitizer. Oh yes. Plenty of it. Our little one and I joke and call it “Santa-tizer“- cause it’s funny. Shouting it like a Super Hero always helps: “Time to SANITIZE!” Gets everyone excited about cleaning their hands for the millionth time (The people around us on the plane will probably mind, but that’s alright, at least we won’t be germy).
• Mailing extras. With all of the rules about flying with liquids, I find it easier to just mail the shampoos and conditioners and lotions (Only when flying somewhere we know people). Then that is one less thing to think about.
• Sanity. Always pack extra. You’ll need it. Especially at that moment when for the hundredth time your little one has to go to the bathroom when the line to use such room is half the length of the plane. Sanity. Yup. Packed me a whole bunch of that.

Gentle Reminder

Shorewoods Craft Fair is THIS WEEKEND!!!

Come on by and support local crafters…and me.

Joining me this year is my husband with his remarkable fantabulous Big Bagels. He will only be there on Saturday, so come and get them while they last!

The hours this year are:

December 5th,Saturday 10 am- 4 pm

December 6th, Sunday 11 am- 3pm

See you there!

Poet’s Corner

I thought I would share this with you. I think she has a bit of a talent for Poetry… but then again, I could be biased! I am one proud Mama.

The Party and The Wild

8 kids 4 and under= 1 tired Mama.

My husband and older daughter got back from the movies after the festivities had ended, and suggested we go through a walk in the woods.

It was a great way to end our day, but my feet are hurting! It was a good day.

Good Nite!

I’m It.

I’ve been tagged. Tagg-ed by two wonderfully gorgeous ladies, Lisa of Blozulfog and Jenny of Jenny on the Spot to join in on the Holiday fun
of entering a contest!

To enter, all I have to do is fill out this List of sorts… So if you’ll join me, I will show you my list.

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme:
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

1. A pincushion (For the past 5 years, I have been using a tube sock bunched and stretched over a mason jar).
2. A Calendar (Old fashioned paper calendar with giant squares, so that I can write everything my brain cannot hold).
3. I would love love love a new digital camera so that I can record for my Blog a little bit better.
4. Truly to have a year without sickness or sadness for my family- and friends- and well, while I am wishing, for the world. I think everyone needs a year off. That’s not too much to ask- right?
5. Erik the Viking DVD- cause It’s. Just. Funny.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

A mug my 10 year old made at school. It’s beautiful.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

Kid’s Jacket from a pattern (I am not so good with the patterns).

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

A Bright Red Radio.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

• A stick of Butter (the 4 year old has a butter problem)
• She also wants Kisses and Hugs (Oh how I am enjoying the simplicity of a 4 year old’s wishes)
• Art Supplies (My 10 year old LOVES to create)
• She also wants a Sewing Machine of her own (The wishes get more expensive as they get older)

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

Home made cranberry jelly. I can eat that stuff alone with a spoon. Yum.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

Just about everything.

All the Men in our lives will be getting Handmade Boxer shorts (I hope they don’t read this). I have also started a tradition with my kids to make each of them a flannel nightgown every year. I have made some other kids pants and flannel PJ bottoms. Whew- I’ve been busy.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

Hands down- White Christmas. What a dreamy movie.

9. Favorite holiday song?

Oddly enough- the same. White Christmas.

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Personalizing our Christmas cards, Seriously. I love it.

So here it goes. Thanks for joining me.

Now it’s my turn to tag.

You’re it!

Odd Thanks Out

Today I found myself thinking of things that I am truly thankful for, but they are less obvious than the ones I think of all of the time.

• I am thankful for my daughter having a meltdown of sorts. It means she is on the mend.
• I am thankful for her mood swings. It means she is growing up.
• I am thankful for the ability to heal.
• I am thankful for dishes to wash, and laundry to do, and a floor to scrub.
• I am thankful for a roof over our heads.
• I am thankful there are still foods I can eat.
• I am thankful for my sewing machine…. (I couldn’t leave it out).
• I am thankful we know how to make do with what we have.
• I am thankful we want for very little, even though there is much to want.
• I am thankful to be called “Mom”.
• I am thankful for my children and their very different personalities, and their knack for keeping my wits sharp.
• I am thankful for my husband’s sense of humor.
• I am thankful for appreciating many of these things all of the time, not only once a year.

I hope you all had a wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving with many things to be Thankful for!

Decorations For Sanity

Still have that flu bug in the house, but the temperatures have gone down from scary 103 to 100.

To keep us (me and the non-temperature having child) from going stir crazy,
I kept us busy with projects.

One of them was inspired by a post I saw on Craftzine. Sonya Nimri has a project to use up those egg cartons (that I accumulate rapidly)! Yay!

I took her idea and tweeked it a bit to make it my own.

First, we tore up and painted the egg holder parts of the carton with watercolors.

Next I cut toilet paper rolls in half and we decorated them with markers.

I then glued all the “petals” together with white glue, and my little one squirted glitter glue into the centers.

Here’s another picture, because I think they are so pretty.

I hot glued the flowers (once dried) onto the toilet paper tubes.

And now we have lovely -easy- napkin rings! Since we have been in the house a few days- and will be a few more- we needed something a bit special to dress up our Thanksgiving. I think these do the trick!

The next project I did was for ME. MY. SANITY.

I needed to sew. I needed a break from washing my hands obsessively (and the kids’) and from making food and drinks and clearing food and drinks and laundry. Mountains of laundry.

I have found that when I am in a state of needing time to sew, I should take it.

I made these colorful birthday banners. I wanted something bright to look at. Something to take my mind off the worry that comes with having the little ones home, not feeling well.

Plus, it is practical. Although they are really to help celebrate our almost 4 year old’s birthday this weekend (we’ll see about that), I put them up now to enjoy.

Now, onto that laundry….

Flu Bugs Be-gone!

We have a nasty flu in the house now. My older daughter brought it home with her yesterday. My younger one has a bad cold…so far.

I don’t like when they’re sick. It is so easy to take their health for granted and get swept up in the day to day busy-ness.

Colds and Flu’s Stop .You. Where .You. Are. No more errands. No more school. Just rest.

So I will be house-bound for the next few days, and will be resisting the urge to get sick myself.

Between making soups and warm drinks for everyone, I will be trying to finish up some things I want to get done for Christmas and Birthdays.

One of the projects is a Quilt for our almost 4 year old.

I think she is going to love this blueberry fabric!

Nourishing our bodies and creativity this week.

I hope all of you are well!

Mark Your Calendars

The Second Annual Shorewoods Holiday Craft Fair will be happening in Hansville

Saturday December 5th, 9am until 4pm

and

Sunday December 6th, 11am until 3pm.

Come on down and support local crafters….

Noggin’ Toppers and Big Bagel will be there with bells on.

(Big bagel will be there selling bagels ONLY on Saturday December 5th. Pre-orders are suggested.)

Hope to see you all there!