Getting things done

I just couldn't wait to share this. This has been floating around in my head for months. Coats and boots for eight people just don't fit on a 5 foot wall. We needed a system. What do you think? Oh, I am so excited I cant stand it! I love organization. I'm not saying that I am organized... it's just a goal.

I burned their names on their cubby. And Grace was very excited about it. "Are you writing my name? Oh, I love it! Are you writing, G-R-A-B-C?" 

After New Years, the tree comes down, the toys get put away, the cupboards get cleaned out, and projects get done. We spent an entire day color coding the Legos.

 And good timing. Papa and Aunt Kathy came over with the boy's Christmas present. (It was back ordered and didn't get here until after Christmas. Which worked out great. They were so excited to get a a bonus present) They have played and played and played with this set.

 Joshua's room got some attention this week, too. The toy box was cleaned out, the books reorganized and we took down the crib and brought in Jacob's toddler bed. He (and Grace) enjoyed jumping off it more than sleeping in it. He is asleep before he goes to bed, so this is not much of an adjustment for him.
good thing the kitty in her hand is only a toy

Love you!

Such a doll, she is.

Did I tell you we have an outdoor cat? Did I tell you the cat is indoor more than he is out? And, oh, did I mention that when he gets left in at night, he wakes up in the middle of the night and wants the whole house to get up with him? Grace always sleeps through the night and well into the morning.Kind of a lazy girl. I wont tell you who she takes after. But last night, at about 4, she woke up and crawled into bed with me. Which would have been ok, had she not brought her flashlight with her and tried to check out my eyeballs. And turn my light on cause she cant see her book. On our way back to her room, I tripped over the cat. Ah! The culprit. I tucked her back in bed and brought Shadow downstairs. I turned around, and there is Grace behind me.

"I'm just getting a snack."

No, I don't think so. Back to bed.

...again.

At about 5, I hear "ding, ding, ding- Hi! Push the letter button to check out some letters."

"Grace! Turn that off and go to sleep!" Paige lovingly directed  her.

At 6, she's back in bed with me. Finally, at 6:30, I found myself with my hand over her mouth, whispering in my sternest voice, "shut...up...and...go..to...sleep." And my obedient little child did.

This afternoon, when I got home from work, she wrapped both arms around my neck, planted one huge kiss on my cheek and said, "Mommy, I love you!"

 "And I love you. More than I did yesterday."

My boy

cat nap, anyone?

what happens when you leave the bathroom door open after you get Grace out of the tub. My  netti pot makes a great bath toy.

the girls got a knitting kit for Christmas. (excuse the boogies)

Wa-geee!

We LOVE vacuum cleaners in this house! Joshua has a strange fascination with them. While we were looking at Black Friday ads, he sat on my lap and passed over the toy section with little enthusiasm. But when we reached the page with a vacuum on it, he squealed! This is why this is our third vacuum in a year. (I've learned to keep my receipts)

 

2011

 I welcome you! -no, I'm just kidding. I'm not that corny. Tony called home tonight and told us to look at the sky. But from our house, you can't see the sunset. Kassandra had just walked in the door, so I grabbed her and we took a road trip, no sure if it were going to be worth it or not. We just drove up the road a bit, to the top of the hill, then got out and goofed around, feeling quite embarrassed when a car drove by and wondered what on earth we were doing at the side of the road, with no coats on.
But, my, was it beautiful! The Master Artist at work...

 We had quite a busy day. Friends over this morning for a "sledding" party. (it was 50 degrees out so it was more of a shushball fight party) and family over tonight for games.
The community center had a party and set off fireworks. They set them off in the parking lot across the street. We had the best view in town right from our backyard.

Happy new year, everyone! Have you thought about your WORD of the year yet?

Being Creative

Every year, when November rolls around, my head begins to swim with ideas. It begins with crafts for relatives. Gift ideas. With so many nieces and nephews, we have to be a little creative. I brainstorm with the girls, I brainstorm with my friends (clients) as I work, I surf the Internet and get inspired by many creative people. I end up with more ideas than time to fulfill them.

The day after Christmas- something happens to my brain, there must be a plug in the back of my head that is fed by the excitement of the season, and on December 26th, it deflates. All my ideas, all my motivation slips away. Does anybody else have this problem?

No big deal. It's all part of the fun of Christmas. My goal this year was not just to end up with stuff to throw in a gift bag. I wanted to create memories for my kids. I want them to remember us sitting at the table painting and sewing and having fun. So when the babies climbed up on the chairs and cleared off the table in one quick sweep, or stepped on the sewing machine's foot petal and messed up my project, I was careful to remain patient. If I yell at the kids the whole time, then I'm missing the whole point. I want to create good memories.

Then I realized-

Why should our Christmas activities be any different than any other day of the year? Shouldn't I want to create wonderful memories of us playing games on an ordinary Tuesday? Or having fun while doing chores? Or jumping in the pile after we raked the leaves? Or- bear with me here- teaching History?

All things should be done in a spirit of love and fellowship. Even the mundane. This is my goal for the new year. Who's with me?

Merry Christmas!

Joshua was thrilled with his lego fire truck. We're getting him off to an early start. He wants to be a master builder like his brothers. (Master builder is a nicer term than obsessive fanatic)
Jacob gathered up his presents (two out of three were Legos, of course) and said, "Thank you, Mommy, for the presents and have a very merry Christmas!"

After our presents were opened and we relaxed a bit, we headed over to Amy's for dinner.
It's a Wii Christmas! Both S families got a Wii for Christmas this year from Mema. Neither of us have ever had a gamimg system so this is a real treat.

Silly Livy.

Then we headed over to my Dad's.
Grace got in some quality laptop time with her cousin.

And the boys got some new Nerf guns and had a war.