Good Days Are Worth Remembering {Wednesday was a GREAT DAY}

Wednesday was a good day.  Here's what I wrote about it on Wednesday.

We went up Thursday to take a look.  Here is our lovely downstairs.

It's been a good day. On Tuesday we had a staging company stage our house that is for sale and it looks awesome! The stager sent me a photo stream of pictures from the work she did at our home. I was just blown away. I have never seen our house look so great.  It makes me want to live there again. Today those pictures will make it to the website where our house is advertised on line! I am really hoping that it drives new people to come up and take a look. Our realtor has also committed to holding an open house where it will be advertised in advance.

But there's another reason why today is so good. This morning I received an email stating that I was accepted to hang a show of my photography at a local public gallery. I submitted a proposal in early August.  It went before a committee and they chose me. That feels like a step in a very good direction.

Wait, there is more. It was a lovely day in Colorado where the temperature only hit the low 80's and with a bit of wind.  In the shade with a cool breeze it feels mid 70's.  A great day to picnic.  So, we got sandwiches from a local deli and decided to tail gate in the parking lot of the school with my mother who was visiting and my husband who met us there with his big truck and a cushy camping insert in the covered flatbed.  Don't worry, we had another reason to be there.  We also attended an open house.  Si will be going to a Montessori pre-school this fall. Today we met all three of his teachers.  That's right.  Three teachers in one classroom. . . and they were lovely. To top it off, we also visited a splash park afterward where the boys got to play around in fountains of water. They fell asleep on the way home- Heaven.

I just can't remember having so many positive memorable things happening all in one day. What a blessing.  It was great!

The pressures of life and how to love the one you are

Let me start by showing you this fantastic picture I took of our cookie exchange at my MOPs group!  The cookies were really pretty this year and I even made my biscotti although I did change the recipe (I will give it out in a future post!)  I was so proud of my Photoshop skills... I needed another place to show it off.  AND after reading below you will see that even when I sometimes feel that I am drowning in to-dos I ask for guidance and it gets me through!

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So, it has been a while since I posted last.  I'm not going to let myself off the hook.  Instead I am going to tell you why.  It's because life is happening.  This month aside from being a month of holiday cheer, has been full of other things that have roped me in, tied me down and challenged me. I'm OK with that...

To start with we have a baby.  Yes, it looks so simple, so neat and nice.  But it is HARD work.  Even my guy with his sweet smile and laugh, his gentle demeanor. . . He still needs diapers changed, clothes changed, holding, playing and, oh yeah some new stuff now... soothing because of teething, trying new foods, spotting while sitting up, a little sleep training (I HATE) and even a little extra monitoring with a curious and somewhat overly helpful (maybe jealous) big brother around.

My husband went out of of town on business on the 10th and returned on the 20th... 10 days.  Did I tell you I am not a pre-shopper??  Yeah, about those gifts and cards that were supposed to be shipped.  Didn't happen....(still :-0).

When he first left I felt sad and over my head.  I have not been alone with my two little guys since the second one was born.  I was afraid.  I guess if I'm being honest I wondered if I could even do it. 

But I did.  I made it.

Sometimes it is the challenge and the trials that make us stronger, wiser and more able.  I feel guilty about feeling so desperate because as soon as I do I remember how blessed I am.

Simple. Basic. Needs.
are met here
Daily.

Daily. 

Hourly.
every second.

Of course dwelling on guilt won't get me anywhere either.  So how do you remember how to love the one you are?  I remember to pray for thanksgiving and keep on trudging through.  It always works.  It always makes me feel better.  Each and every time I ask for guidance it is given.

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

 Romans 12:12 (NIV)

I know it's not just me.  I'm sure you've been given the nudge you need.  I'd love it if you would tell me about it.  Sometimes the knowledge that we are all going through life with bumps and bruises makes everyone heal just a little faster.

It is time for Advent! My Advent Calender How to and a free printable

When I was a kid I remember making a large felt advent calendar with my mom.  It was at least 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide... maybe larger.  It was set up as a winter scene (large white piece of felt) with colorful felt houses made from squares and triangles lined up along a road made of rick-rack.  I think we had a snowman who moved from one house to the next each day until finally he reached the top where there was a felt church.

The earliest memories of that calendar are wonderful.  In my 3 year old mind it was totally cool.  However, as I got older I noticed all the flaws that only a mother could love.  When my mom tried to pass it on to me I had to inform her that there was a lot more for her to love than for me. :-) What she loved about it was the memory of making it and using it with me.  After years of use it just wasn't pretty anymore, and is not something that I think my boys would marvel at.  They didn't make it, for one, and secondly it has seen better days.

A third point I should mention was that we only counted down to Christmas when I was a child.  There wasn't much explaining about Jesus.  I want for my children to excitedly count down to Christmas morning but also realize the importance of this holiday and the meaning.  I thought I'd share with you our advent calendar that I made for our family this year here. I have decided to make it in a very small 8.5 x 11" size.  Print it for your own personal home use and enjoy!  I'd be really happy if you did.  Please let me know too. (It will encourage me to make more stuff!).  The tree and design is my own but I borrowed the idea for scripture each day from an advent chain idea on the Free Methodist Church USA website.

Sure we can keep it and use it again next year but if not it's small enough that I won't feel terrible about tossing it into the recycle bin with gift wrap after Christmas.

To make:  Just print out each page.  On the tree page use a exacto knife to cut the three sides of each door.  On the second sheet use a thin line of glue all the way around the outside edge and then across and up and down each row and column.  Match the top edge and then press making sure not to catch any of the doors with glue.

To use: Open one door daily and discuss the topic in all caps with your child.  Read the scripture to get an idea of what might be good to talk about with your kids and also to help you keep in mind the meaning of the holiday.  My three year old is content discussing the daily topic.  Even with no candy he is excited to open a door each day! :-)


Please do tell me if you used this.  It would be like a gift to me if you did!

Merry Christmas!

UPDATE:
Forgot to mention that I love these ideas and will probably use them too:
This is an advent chain with names of Jesus.  I think I will just print it, assemble it and hang it instead of using it as an advent.
And this is a list of things to do with kids each day to enjoy the season.  loving it!

October Highlights and Milestones

I know -it's November  and I am giving October Highlights and Milestones.  What I do is keep a list going in the current month in my draft section for my blog posts.  It is hidden during the month and as the month moves along I continue to update it. Then I don't have to remember it all at the end of the month.  I've decided to keep a monthly log of the new or emerging growth of my boys.  I'm sure there will be a few ho-hum types of entries too but all of it worth remembering.  Here is what I'd like to remember about October.

My Little Love (3.5 yrs):

• He's grown a ton!  Finally wearing 3T with the waist cinched in all the way.
• Weighs 30 lbs!
• Learning to play poker (not my idea) and really likes it.
• Growing reading ability.  Pointing out words he knows, discussing sounds letters, blends and digraphs.  Spelling words based on his knowledge.
• Writes his name on things.  He used to write his name if you asked him but now he will sometimes just go ahead and do it.
• Adding numbers.
• Very interested in cooking.  Wants to help me bake and fix dinner.  His dinner job this month has been to peel carrots.

My Tiny Love (4 months):

• Full on laugh!  LOVE his laugh.
• Can sleep 6 consecutive hours overnight This changed by the end of the month :-(((  He was only sleeping 2 hours at a time!  He did have a cold.  I really hope he learns how to sleep again.
• Went to childcare while I went to Bible Study!
• Lasted through date night in childcare!  AWESOME!
• Starting to grab, hold, and move toys in his hands. I think he is intentionally squeezing the crinkly toys.
• Weighs over 16lbs!
• Rolls over - first time was the day before his 4 month appointment.

Halloween Success

Halloween was a success.  I made some logo patches and stitched them on to a long sleeved gray shirt as well as a pleather jacket I found at a thrift shop for $6.  It all came together.  The little one was a skeleton thanks to a sleeper I found at Walmart way back in September. 

We had a blast.  Honestly I was not really excited about taking a 3 year old and a 4 month old trick-or-treating but it worked out.  With the stroller and my husband handy it was fun after all.  Just one loop in a neighborhood was all it took for my big boy to look forward to next year.  He sees how his costume produced candy- and that will encourage him to help me make another costume next year.  Can't wait!

Race Car Driver Costume Update

The past week has been a week of stuffy and runny noses, tissues scattered, excessive hand washing (by me) and little sleep (Also me but not because of sickness... because everyone else was not sleeping!).

Steve and Silas had the bug first and I thought Augustus and I had escaped but... no.  Gus seemed to showed signs of teething with excessive drooling, chewing on his hands and poor sleep.  But, when he started snoring at night I knew the stuffy nose had caught on.  He slept poorly... so did I!

It seems we are all on the mend.  I think the fact that I still take my prenatal vitamins has helped me fend off the worst of it.  I still need to go get a flu shot though... I can't imagine getting the flu with having to be a mom too!  Luckily I can still function with little sleep.

Putting this costume together has not been too overwhelming since we started so early.  The fun project has helped us keep our mind off the illness too.  It is not totally finished yet but with the helmet being the true highlight, here is the latest. I'll post the full costume on Halloween.

3 Year Old boy+ Love of cars+ Halloween= Paper Mache Racecar Helmet! Part 2

Up Next:

1. repairing the chin cut
2. smoothing/sanding?
3. painting
4. detailing

We'll check in again soon...

3 Year Old boy+ Love of cars+ Halloween= Paper Mache Racecar Helmet!

Silas had his first brush with Paper Mache.  I don't think he knows what is really going on here.  He believes there will be a race car helmet in the end... I'm not sure he understands how a balloon some water, flour and some old newspapers are going to make that happen.  Magic beans?  Lucky for him, No.

Paper Mache is pretty easy.  I really have no recipe.  Just an idea will get you started as long as you have a base like a balloon from which you can let your idea come to life.

Silas let me measure his head, I blew up the balloon to a size a couple inches bigger in circumference and we went to work.  Well... I am going to work.  My big boy is not a fan of sticky hands so he opted to help brush my work with the flour water slop using a basting brush. :-)

Paper Mache "glue"
Mix up to form a very watery paste.
1 or 2 cups warm water
1 Heaping Tablespoon of flour

The flour is the glue and you don't want your newspaper to be white and sloppy so more water and less flour will do you just fine.

I used a plastic box for the glue as you can see from the photo.  We used a bowl to hold the balloon steady as we placed the paper mache on it.  It also helps with drying (hint: turn the balloon over from time to time as it dries). As we ripped the paper we put it into the slop one piece at a time and wiped off excess with one swoop on the edge of the box so it would not be too watery.  From there you just place it on the balloon and smooth and repeat.  Overlap the pieces in a random matter.  Make one layer of newspaper let it dry and do another let it dry and so on...  It will probably take a day for the first layer to dry and less time after that.  Paper mache is a slow process though so get started far in advance for a good project. :-)

We'll check in again in a few days to see how far we've come.