I got the advent countdown calendar finished up the other day, and I filled it with some goodies, and tiny nativity ornaments. The boys love it. And they love putting the new ornament on the tree. *I think that is just because they like any excuse to touch the tree* Grayson got a sheep ornament, and now loves going to it and showing it to me, like he is so proud that he put it there. Yesterday's ornament was a shepherd. When Thomas pulled it out from among the m&m's I asked him what it was. He said with a confused look "Lego Starwars?" LOL - I guess the shepherd did look a little like a lego figure.
We played Lego Starwars last night as a family, it is "challenging" to do with the boys, but their delight in it is just too adorable. Thomas and Grayson even sang along with the theme song...(dun dun dun, dun dun dun) it makes us so proud as parents... passing along such an awesome legacy as star wars.
anyway, back to the countdown calendar.... I know the kids are liking it so far, but I am just not "sure" about it. I don't know what it is, but I want to tweek it somehow... or use something else entirely... I am not sure.
I do know that when we need an activity to keep Thomas fom getting bored one of these days this week, we will be making a paper chain countdown. That is what we used last year, and I think we need to do it again.
I also wish I had this, but hadn't made up my mind about it until now (and now it's too late, cuz I have already spent my christmas budget. So maybe next year.)
We got some outdoor lights hung up on Saturday. I wasn't sure we would get to it this year, cuz it snowed early, and there is no way we were going up on a slick snowy roof to hang lights. So instead I hung them around the windows, and on the lowest section of the roof, that I could still reach with just our short ladder. I will try tonight to get some picture of it. it's nothing impressive, but it does add to the wonder and sparkle of christmas. Thomas and Grayson can see them when they are on the couch. And that is who it's for, not so much the neighborhood. (Although, when other homes in the neighborhood have lights, doesn't it just feel more friendly?)
Thomas still tells us we need to put more on the roof, LOL, but I just told him, that this will have to do for this year.
I am counting on the fact that I should be able to get fancy plastic "light hangers" at the after christmas clearance sales, to use for next year. Then we could leave the hangers up all year, and putting lights up will be a cinch next year.
I have to laugh a little at myself, because last year at this time, all of us were dreaming and plotting about how we would be christmasing up our brand new homes.
Last year this week of Dec. we were roofing, and then when the snow came, we moved under the plastic tents to do rocking (and stay warm).
But from up on top of those houses we were all making big plans. And now here it is. We are living in the homes we built, living our dreams;(even if some of those big ambitions were a little lofty).
12/6/10
12/4/10
12/3/10
Christmas cards
I haven't sent out christmas cards in a long time. Some of my excuses include
a) I feel pressure to make homemade cards since I am a scrapbooker and card maker, and I just run out of time during the holiday, so they never get made -- OR I feel pressure to make them Uber fancy, and can't ever make them turn out how I see them in my head.
b) because I feel like eventhough I never see my friends and extended family, I know what they are up to, and they know what I am up to, because of blogs and facebook.
c) I am too lazy to dig out my address book (it's around here somewhere)
and d) does anyone really want to get a card from me anyway?
a) I feel pressure to make homemade cards since I am a scrapbooker and card maker, and I just run out of time during the holiday, so they never get made -- OR I feel pressure to make them Uber fancy, and can't ever make them turn out how I see them in my head.
b) because I feel like eventhough I never see my friends and extended family, I know what they are up to, and they know what I am up to, because of blogs and facebook.
c) I am too lazy to dig out my address book (it's around here somewhere)
and d) does anyone really want to get a card from me anyway?
a give away:
I found this blog a few weeks ago when looking for some ideas of activities to keep Thomas occupied inside during the winter. They are having a give away - ends Mon Dec 6. For a Love and Logic book. I have the original book, and it's definately given me help for how to have a happy home. Just wanted to pass that along....
12/2/10
My theme this christmas:
I want Christmas to be a special time of year, but I just kept thinking to myself, "it's got to be more than just about the presents".
The cute saying above is from a plaque at Dessert Book. It is a fabulous reminder to me on the focus that I want to give Christmas traditions in my home.
12/1/10
December is here
and so is the snow.
The forecast for the entire week is snow, snow, and more snow. I am not really sure how much snow each day, but the little drift today was still enough that we had to shovel the sidewalk and driveway, and clean off the cars to go anywhere.
We bundled the boys up to go out with us. That took about 45 minutes. They lasted outside probably 20 minutes before they were cold. And the screaming about the cold fingers and toes lasted about another 20 minutes after that.
The fireplace is nice to turn on and sit in front of to get toasty warm again after playing in the cold.
I think we will take a little trip to the store for some more waterproof gloves, and some boots to fit on Grayson's beefy feet. The boots that Thomas wore when he was Grayson's age, won't even fit over his plump ankles.
The forecast for the entire week is snow, snow, and more snow. I am not really sure how much snow each day, but the little drift today was still enough that we had to shovel the sidewalk and driveway, and clean off the cars to go anywhere.
We bundled the boys up to go out with us. That took about 45 minutes. They lasted outside probably 20 minutes before they were cold. And the screaming about the cold fingers and toes lasted about another 20 minutes after that.
The fireplace is nice to turn on and sit in front of to get toasty warm again after playing in the cold.
I think we will take a little trip to the store for some more waterproof gloves, and some boots to fit on Grayson's beefy feet. The boots that Thomas wore when he was Grayson's age, won't even fit over his plump ankles.
11/30/10
I am glad the weekend is over
That is probably not something you hear anyone say.
But this weekend has really been rough.
It started good on thursday, we made a quick trip to Idaho to have Thanksgiving dinner with grandma and grandpa Winward, and Tom and Lori. Thomas and Grayson grabbed onto grandma Winward almost immediately, demanding all her attention. They were in love :) LOL we had to rush back home after lunch, though, because Walmart never sleeps, and Tyson had to be to work by 4pm. (gotta get all those trucks loaded)
(- when Thomas and I went to WM on Wed for grocery shopping, they were hard at work unloading boxes and pallets all over the store. I asked Thomas if he knew where all the boxes came from and he yelled "THE DC" (distribution center - where daddy works) he is such a smart kid!)
Thomas and Grayson were a little edgy from sitting in the car for the long(er) drive, so to keep them happy for the rest of the evening, we put the christmas tree up. they helped me decorate it with colored lights, candy canes, stars and jingle bells. And then they "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed over it for the rest of the night.
Grayson woke up around 3 am and started throwing up. He was sick for about 12 hours, and was able to finally keep stuff down around 3 in the afternoon. by 3 am that night - i was throwing up, presumable from taking care of him all day. I was feeling a little better by about 6pm saturday night, and by 7pm, Tyson was sick.
I will count my blessings that we each got it one at a time, instead of all at once - that would have totally sucked. And I will also count my blessings that Thomas didn't get it at all. he did go to bed early twice, which had me worried that he would be next, but I think we kept him distanced from us well enough that he didn't get whatever it was we were all carrying.
I took the boys to church by myself on sunday. We didn't make it to sacrament meeting, because it had been snowing, so I had to be the one to go shovel the driveway (and move the blockade pile the snowplow pushed in front, making it impossible to get out), and get the suv all swept down (I used our large pushbroom). Then I had to go inside and get cooled down from all the unexpected exercise, and get myself dressed for church, and looking like I hadn't just ran a marathon - )bright red face and all sweaty).
Tyson was feeling a bit better by the time we got home from church.
Monday was filled with getting the house back to some order - like finding juice boxes spilled in the toy room from the time I had given Grayson a drink, but hadn't had the energy to watch what he did with it until 2 days later, and picking up the tissues from all the nose blowing, and coughing, and the books and toys the boys dragged from the playroom to one of us on the couch in the living room to read or play with them, as we lay in our "death" pose.
So now it's tuesday. Things can get better and back to normal now. It will be December tomorrow!!!! The start of the Christmas season! I am doing that Journal Your Christmas I mentioned before. It will give me prompts for everyday - something to think and blog about, and something to spark creativity and my photography to capture our celebrations this year.
So far the only decorations we have up are the tree, and the Fisher Price nativity. I would really like the house to be more festive looking, but I think I am a little intimidated by my brand new walls. I don't really want to poke unnecessary holes in them. And I am not sure what will look good where... i also don't have much, since I kept decorating to a bare minimum in our tiny aprtment, and since I fear Thomas's curiosity and reach...
anyway, it's weird because tomorrow will be the middle of the week already. Then the weekend can come again. Only this time, I am praying for a good one.
But this weekend has really been rough.
It started good on thursday, we made a quick trip to Idaho to have Thanksgiving dinner with grandma and grandpa Winward, and Tom and Lori. Thomas and Grayson grabbed onto grandma Winward almost immediately, demanding all her attention. They were in love :) LOL we had to rush back home after lunch, though, because Walmart never sleeps, and Tyson had to be to work by 4pm. (gotta get all those trucks loaded)
(- when Thomas and I went to WM on Wed for grocery shopping, they were hard at work unloading boxes and pallets all over the store. I asked Thomas if he knew where all the boxes came from and he yelled "THE DC" (distribution center - where daddy works) he is such a smart kid!)
Thomas and Grayson were a little edgy from sitting in the car for the long(er) drive, so to keep them happy for the rest of the evening, we put the christmas tree up. they helped me decorate it with colored lights, candy canes, stars and jingle bells. And then they "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed over it for the rest of the night.
Grayson woke up around 3 am and started throwing up. He was sick for about 12 hours, and was able to finally keep stuff down around 3 in the afternoon. by 3 am that night - i was throwing up, presumable from taking care of him all day. I was feeling a little better by about 6pm saturday night, and by 7pm, Tyson was sick.
I will count my blessings that we each got it one at a time, instead of all at once - that would have totally sucked. And I will also count my blessings that Thomas didn't get it at all. he did go to bed early twice, which had me worried that he would be next, but I think we kept him distanced from us well enough that he didn't get whatever it was we were all carrying.
I took the boys to church by myself on sunday. We didn't make it to sacrament meeting, because it had been snowing, so I had to be the one to go shovel the driveway (and move the blockade pile the snowplow pushed in front, making it impossible to get out), and get the suv all swept down (I used our large pushbroom). Then I had to go inside and get cooled down from all the unexpected exercise, and get myself dressed for church, and looking like I hadn't just ran a marathon - )bright red face and all sweaty).
Tyson was feeling a bit better by the time we got home from church.
Monday was filled with getting the house back to some order - like finding juice boxes spilled in the toy room from the time I had given Grayson a drink, but hadn't had the energy to watch what he did with it until 2 days later, and picking up the tissues from all the nose blowing, and coughing, and the books and toys the boys dragged from the playroom to one of us on the couch in the living room to read or play with them, as we lay in our "death" pose.
So now it's tuesday. Things can get better and back to normal now. It will be December tomorrow!!!! The start of the Christmas season! I am doing that Journal Your Christmas I mentioned before. It will give me prompts for everyday - something to think and blog about, and something to spark creativity and my photography to capture our celebrations this year.
So far the only decorations we have up are the tree, and the Fisher Price nativity. I would really like the house to be more festive looking, but I think I am a little intimidated by my brand new walls. I don't really want to poke unnecessary holes in them. And I am not sure what will look good where... i also don't have much, since I kept decorating to a bare minimum in our tiny aprtment, and since I fear Thomas's curiosity and reach...
anyway, it's weird because tomorrow will be the middle of the week already. Then the weekend can come again. Only this time, I am praying for a good one.
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