My pumpkins still gleam. I love the yellows and oranges. I'm not ready to let go of fall and embrace winter....Christmas. Plus, I really need to deep clean my house before I cover all the muck with tree and tinsel. I'm not a humbug. I do love Christmas. I love anticipating it. I start shopping in September, sometimes August...if I see the perfect thing.
We have traditions that I embrace. We make sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, we gift the boys a new ornament every year, we go to Storybook Land, listen to Christmas music in the van, read Christmas books, play with the nativity set, open one gift each night (3-5 nights before Christmas), look at lights at night....
I never do an artificial tree. I always want the real thing. We all hop on the tractor and rumble though the woods looking for our perfect one.
I know once I bring down the boxes of decor, dive in, go to a Christmas party...I'll be fully in the mood. But maybe I'm dragging my feet because I want to hold on to Thanksgiving and fall just a bit longer. I really hope I'm not growing old and getting too practical.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Explosions!
My boys have out grown their toys. Their tubs odds and ends mainly clutter the floor or sit as forgotten individuals in their assigned toy cupboard. I love the fact that they aren't being drug all over my house, but I miss them being a source of mental engagement.
My oldest is interested in games and activities. He wants to do things together as a family. He loves spending time with me on the couch, working on mazes together. He loves it when I do "school" with him.
That is why I'm very excited about testing out a new toy from CSN Stores. I'm going to be checking my mail for our much anticipated package: The Young Scientist Club Adventure Science Series: Volcano Madness.
Oh, yes, volcanoes. CSN Stores has over 36 thematic science kits to chose from. Here is a bit from their site about this line:
Started in 1999 by Esther Novis, a mother of five and a Harvard graduate with degrees in biology, The Young Scientists Club began as a summer science camp for her 5-year-old son. Friends from other parts of the country told Novis they felt cheated that their kids couldn’t go, so she packaged the experiments and sent them off. The idea for a science subscription service was born!
My husband and I had a little fight over which one to get. He teaches science and was excited about getting some curriculum help. There are kits about the human body, crystals and fossils, and germs. Actually, maybe I should get the one about germs since someone in my family has been sick for over a month now.
Right now they are running a special from 11/23-12/1. They are offering 20% off any items from this line, and it is not limited to one per order.
The code to be used when going through the checkout for these online toys is YSC20.
This line has won several recognitions:
2009 Creative Child Award
Recognition from the Parents' Choice Foundation and National Parenting Center
Museum Store Association Buyer's Choice
I can't wait to let you all know how it goes once my kit arrives. I'm planning on some pretty good pictures. Plus, I'm part of a preschool co-op, so maybe it'll be something I can use when it is my turn to do an educational activity.
My oldest is interested in games and activities. He wants to do things together as a family. He loves spending time with me on the couch, working on mazes together. He loves it when I do "school" with him.
That is why I'm very excited about testing out a new toy from CSN Stores. I'm going to be checking my mail for our much anticipated package: The Young Scientist Club Adventure Science Series: Volcano Madness.
Oh, yes, volcanoes. CSN Stores has over 36 thematic science kits to chose from. Here is a bit from their site about this line:
Started in 1999 by Esther Novis, a mother of five and a Harvard graduate with degrees in biology, The Young Scientists Club began as a summer science camp for her 5-year-old son. Friends from other parts of the country told Novis they felt cheated that their kids couldn’t go, so she packaged the experiments and sent them off. The idea for a science subscription service was born!
My husband and I had a little fight over which one to get. He teaches science and was excited about getting some curriculum help. There are kits about the human body, crystals and fossils, and germs. Actually, maybe I should get the one about germs since someone in my family has been sick for over a month now.
Right now they are running a special from 11/23-12/1. They are offering 20% off any items from this line, and it is not limited to one per order.
The code to be used when going through the checkout for these online toys is YSC20.
This line has won several recognitions:
2009 Creative Child Award
Recognition from the Parents' Choice Foundation and National Parenting Center
Museum Store Association Buyer's Choice
I can't wait to let you all know how it goes once my kit arrives. I'm planning on some pretty good pictures. Plus, I'm part of a preschool co-op, so maybe it'll be something I can use when it is my turn to do an educational activity.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Oh, But, But, I.....
I know I should do a thankful post. I should make a top ten. I think I might still, but what's actually been on my mind of late is how much I miss summer. I'm just trying to trick myself into liking late fall and winter. I trick myself/distract myself with a few strategically placed holidays, but really....I like the warm. I desire the sun. I want my favorite three months back: June, July, and August. Those are the good guys. My faithful friends of good times and easy pleasure.
Easy pleasure is sitting in the backyard. Easy pleasure is watching my boys in the sandbox. Easy pleasure is not needing a coat, socks, shoes.....(Any other mom dread the routine at the back door?)
Easy pleasure includes not worrying about Swine Flu.
Today was a sunny one, and I was glad. My middle son noticed and asked why?
"Well, no clouds."
"Oh."
"But its still cold."
"Its still winter."
Yep, it still is. The nights are long. The darkness crashes in on our fun. Our toys are drab. We all have colds. My oldest keeps running a fever.
None of this would have happened in July....I just know it.
Easy pleasure is sitting in the backyard. Easy pleasure is watching my boys in the sandbox. Easy pleasure is not needing a coat, socks, shoes.....(Any other mom dread the routine at the back door?)
Easy pleasure includes not worrying about Swine Flu.
Today was a sunny one, and I was glad. My middle son noticed and asked why?
"Well, no clouds."
"Oh."
"But its still cold."
"Its still winter."
Yep, it still is. The nights are long. The darkness crashes in on our fun. Our toys are drab. We all have colds. My oldest keeps running a fever.
None of this would have happened in July....I just know it.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Quaker Silence?
My world is strangely silent. We are all speaking is whispers. There is a creepy lull; I'm even a bit down...this forced monastery atmosphere is dampening my verbal processing spirit! I have lost my voice.
My sons hate it. "Why are you whispering?" "I can't hear you." "Can you please talk normal." "I don't like you this way."
On day one of no voice they mimicked me and responded in whispers. They did it without really thinking about it, and they didn't seem to notice I was forced to speak this way. It was like some fun game we were all playing together. It wasn't until evening that all their frustration came out. I was frustrated too. Still am.
Each night I go to sleep thinking that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up and my voice has returned to me. I can't help but panic a bit; what if this is the new normal? Freaky.
I need to invest in a white board or post-it notes. My mom and I do charades. Random people will say hello, like the garbage man, and I just smile. Getting gas was tricky. I'm having empathy for the mute. I feel cut off from the world.
My mother-in-law is here this weekend. I have lots of questions and things I'd love to tell her. Nope. I sit in silence. I am thinking I need to invest in an overly talkative friend right now. Someone who will just talk my ear off and visit with me even though all I can do is nod and shake my head.
I asked my husband if he missed my voice. He said, "Oh, this is actually nice!" Ha, ha! He thought it was so very funny. I did not.
I think I might need to have a game night soon where all we do is charades. Anyone?
(Note: On Sunday morning my voice began to regain strength. Now I have smoker's voice.)
My sons hate it. "Why are you whispering?" "I can't hear you." "Can you please talk normal." "I don't like you this way."
On day one of no voice they mimicked me and responded in whispers. They did it without really thinking about it, and they didn't seem to notice I was forced to speak this way. It was like some fun game we were all playing together. It wasn't until evening that all their frustration came out. I was frustrated too. Still am.
Each night I go to sleep thinking that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up and my voice has returned to me. I can't help but panic a bit; what if this is the new normal? Freaky.
I need to invest in a white board or post-it notes. My mom and I do charades. Random people will say hello, like the garbage man, and I just smile. Getting gas was tricky. I'm having empathy for the mute. I feel cut off from the world.
My mother-in-law is here this weekend. I have lots of questions and things I'd love to tell her. Nope. I sit in silence. I am thinking I need to invest in an overly talkative friend right now. Someone who will just talk my ear off and visit with me even though all I can do is nod and shake my head.
I asked my husband if he missed my voice. He said, "Oh, this is actually nice!" Ha, ha! He thought it was so very funny. I did not.
I think I might need to have a game night soon where all we do is charades. Anyone?
(Note: On Sunday morning my voice began to regain strength. Now I have smoker's voice.)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
No Martha Stewart!
Martha Stewart would find me a complete disgrace. I did get her magazine, ages ago....before kids. I got it because it looked so---nice. Those cakes on the cover, so delicious. But I soon canceled after I attempted to make a few of her creations and wasn't even sure where to find many of the ingredients in the grocery store. Perhaps they didn't even carry those specialty items in the grocery store I frequented.
I would never make it on her staff. My ideas would be snubbed and guffawed at. But, still, I have a few good ideas, and so welcome to my version of Home and Garden/Real Simple.
Here is to little tables and art spaces for kids! My mom found this for me last summer at a garage sale for three dollars; it came with three chairs. It has saved our dinning table. Before, I was always having to clean off all their projects to make way for meal times, and then after I got meals all cleaned up....again appeared the creative messes. Also, children love to have a space just their size. Since we embraced this space, my oldest has really gotten in to coloring and drawing and writing. It also makes a perfect spot for their Lego projects. I stole the idea of a ribbon for hanging their art work on, but it is a good one!
I am so glad I gave up on trying to get their crayons back in the crayon boxes. I tried all sorts of other containers, but nothing seemed to stick until I came across this large, glass jar! It is perfect. I highly recommend it.
I am not one of those moms who created a Pottery Barn theme for my kids' rooms. I did get a bit inspired for my son's nursery....we did a simple star theme, but when we moved to our new home I was so overwhelmed by all the other rooms I needed to decorate that the boys' rooms got the shaft. However, this has actually worked in my favor.
My oldest is just now starting to care about his space and how he decorates his room. I'm so glad I didn't go all out with a Cars theme or baseball only to discover that was a passing fancy.
The catalyst for this room ownership seemed to be the shelf pictured above. What I love about this shelf is that it is fastened into the wall and is one less piece of furniture they can move around and launch themselves from. This shelf, nestled next to his bed, made him feel a sense of ownership. The first night he slept next to it he said, "Oh, I just love my shelf. It is perfect." Then he requested a ribbon for hanging art. We put it next to his bed, so he could look at it at night. Then he got inspired and requested a chalkboard. (Pictures coming later. I did a chalkboard that you paint onto the wall.) The best part is he now wants to keep his room clean, spotless! Love it! I never have to ask him to clean his room. The other day we went to the hardware store, and he picked out colors--two different tones of blue. We will work on that next month.
He started receiving posters for each birthday and Christmas. This reflects his changing likes and interests and is way more cost effective than deciding that his whole room is a theme like ships or cars or frogs. His theme: things he likes!
To add a bit of splash and color I let the boys hang these birthday table cloths. They love them; they hang above their beds. Cheap and fun. Also, easy to remove when they no longer like Spiderman or Cars.
My youngest loves cars. He also does not like to sleep in total darkness, so this race car light my mom got him for his birthday is perfect.
It gives off the right amount of light, enough to comfort, but also doesn't keep him awake.
Lastly, the thing that will not only horrify Martha but most of you....my sock drawer.
I hate finding matching socks. I find the whole thing to be rather frustrating. So, when I see a sock I just throw it into this drawer next to my dryer. Then when I can't close it anymore, I know it is time to sort....surely I'll find a few pairs.
Think what you will....it works for me.
I would never make it on her staff. My ideas would be snubbed and guffawed at. But, still, I have a few good ideas, and so welcome to my version of Home and Garden/Real Simple.
Here is to little tables and art spaces for kids! My mom found this for me last summer at a garage sale for three dollars; it came with three chairs. It has saved our dinning table. Before, I was always having to clean off all their projects to make way for meal times, and then after I got meals all cleaned up....again appeared the creative messes. Also, children love to have a space just their size. Since we embraced this space, my oldest has really gotten in to coloring and drawing and writing. It also makes a perfect spot for their Lego projects. I stole the idea of a ribbon for hanging their art work on, but it is a good one!
I am so glad I gave up on trying to get their crayons back in the crayon boxes. I tried all sorts of other containers, but nothing seemed to stick until I came across this large, glass jar! It is perfect. I highly recommend it.
I am not one of those moms who created a Pottery Barn theme for my kids' rooms. I did get a bit inspired for my son's nursery....we did a simple star theme, but when we moved to our new home I was so overwhelmed by all the other rooms I needed to decorate that the boys' rooms got the shaft. However, this has actually worked in my favor.
My oldest is just now starting to care about his space and how he decorates his room. I'm so glad I didn't go all out with a Cars theme or baseball only to discover that was a passing fancy.
The catalyst for this room ownership seemed to be the shelf pictured above. What I love about this shelf is that it is fastened into the wall and is one less piece of furniture they can move around and launch themselves from. This shelf, nestled next to his bed, made him feel a sense of ownership. The first night he slept next to it he said, "Oh, I just love my shelf. It is perfect." Then he requested a ribbon for hanging art. We put it next to his bed, so he could look at it at night. Then he got inspired and requested a chalkboard. (Pictures coming later. I did a chalkboard that you paint onto the wall.) The best part is he now wants to keep his room clean, spotless! Love it! I never have to ask him to clean his room. The other day we went to the hardware store, and he picked out colors--two different tones of blue. We will work on that next month.
He started receiving posters for each birthday and Christmas. This reflects his changing likes and interests and is way more cost effective than deciding that his whole room is a theme like ships or cars or frogs. His theme: things he likes!
To add a bit of splash and color I let the boys hang these birthday table cloths. They love them; they hang above their beds. Cheap and fun. Also, easy to remove when they no longer like Spiderman or Cars.
My youngest loves cars. He also does not like to sleep in total darkness, so this race car light my mom got him for his birthday is perfect.
It gives off the right amount of light, enough to comfort, but also doesn't keep him awake.
Lastly, the thing that will not only horrify Martha but most of you....my sock drawer.
I hate finding matching socks. I find the whole thing to be rather frustrating. So, when I see a sock I just throw it into this drawer next to my dryer. Then when I can't close it anymore, I know it is time to sort....surely I'll find a few pairs.
Think what you will....it works for me.
Freezing Pirates!
"Shiver me timbers!" the two pirates shouted from atop their ship. OK, so really our play fort. My boys are really getting into imaginative play together, which I hear shows intelligence in problem-solving. (There are plenty of problems to solve!)
Our package came. I love getting packages. There it sits by the backdoor waiting for eager hands and eyes. We were all giddy. I opened it up and announced, "Oh boys, our new stuff for the play fort came!" Luckily it was not raining and was just a chilly, windy fall day. Daddy was home, so it was perfect. They all tromped off to the shop to get the correct tools and then to the fort to rig it up.
We got these products from CNS stores. The boys picked out the telescope and steering wheel. My question was, "Will new play fort items motivate my kids to get out and play even though it is getting colder outside?"
The answer: yes, but not for long. And that is OK. It is easy to get them to go outside now. They are eager to get bundled up. But my boys really do not like being cold, so after about 30 minutes they are ready to come back in. (Compared to summer when they stay outside for most of the day.) I think 30 minutes of outdoor play in November is pretty good. I even think that if and when we get a spontaneous snow day, they'll think the play fort is even cooler with their two new accessories.
I am pleased with the quality and durability of the products, and I thought the pricing was fare. The Scotch in me probably would have made my husband pull a stirring wheel from a junkyard, but I have to admit it is nice to have a new, clean product that will not begin to wear due to the weather.
You'll also notice that the packaging was almost as much fun as the two new toys.
I think these types of play accessories are a great option for Christmas presents, and the best part is that they aren't cluttering our toy room! :)
And that is my very honest product review. (It is a bit of a bummer that the telescope didn't have any type of magnifying in it, but the boys didn't seem to notice.)http://www.swingsetsandmore.com/
Friday, November 13, 2009
Becoming....a blog post you must read!
http://becoming-becoming.blogspot.com/2009/11/well-child-exam.html
Oh, this post is just too good! You must read it!
Oh, this post is just too good! You must read it!
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