What to do with all the Christmas cards?

Don't throw away those Christmas cards you've received! Go get them, and I'll give you a quick and easy idea for re-using them!

For the past two years, I have made an activity advent calendar for the month of December. This idea was based loosely on an idea that Stacy Julian shared: http://stacyjulian.com/blog/?p=2210
I use items I have on hand, and the final product is a creative, useful and fun mini-album that showcases our holiday traditions and activities.

You'll need the following supplies:
your old Christmas cards (about 25)
white cardstock
black pen
double-sided tape or a glue stick
single hole punch
binder ring (not sure if this is what it's called)
assorted ribbon
* also, you may want to pull out any mail/advertisements/magazines you still have hanging around from the holidays

First decide what size you will use. I like the 3"x 3" size - small enough for your activity advent to be adorable, but big enough to write in. :) Now, go through your old Christmas cards and cut out a 3" x 3" size from the card - you'll cut out the part of the card that is cutest to you, and that you'd want in your album. If you find that you don't have enough cards (you'll need 25), then look through your December magazines and holiday advertisements/coupons you may have around the house. You'll be surprised at all the fun images and holiday graphics you can use for this project! Cut out everything you like until you have 25 3"x 3" squares.

Now, take your white cardstock and cut 25 3"x 3" squares. You'll use some double-sided tape to adhere these to the backside of your holiday squares. Once this step is done, you'll punch a hole in the corner of every card. There is no measuring on this step - I just eyeball it, and they turn out fine!

Next, make a small circle template (I think I used a bottle cap) and then cut out 25 small white circles. These circles will be what you use to count down to Christmas, and they will be taped/glued to the front of your cards. I decorated the circles simply, with my pen and then wrote in the number. VERY basic and simple! This is just how I did it, but you could find some really cute sticker numbers to adhere to your cards, too.

Once you have all of your cards made and hole-punched, put them together with the binder ring and then tie several strands of ribbon around the ring to give it some pizazz (sp?). I usually write in the activity for each day the night before, just so I make sure we will have time/resources for that particular event.

Activity Ideas for your Advent Album:
1. Read "The Christmas Story" (Little Golden Book) and remember the real reason for the season!
2. Make hot cocoa!
3. Make a Christmas picture and use it for decorations.
4. Check out some holiday books from the library.
5. Sing Christmas carols at home and drink cocoa.
6. Say "HO! HO! HO!" and get a Christmas "Kiss" (Hershey's Kisses)
7. Read Luke 2, while enjoy a candy cane.
8. Bake come Christmas goodies to share with friends/family/neighbors
9. Stamp and mail Christmas cards.
10. Visit local downtown to see the Christmas decorations
11. Enjoy local Christmas parade.
12. Make and color a Christmas card for someone special. Now mail it!
13. Watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" together (or any one of your favorite shows)
14. Drink hot cocoa and share a favorite holiday memory.
15. Read Matthew 1:18-25 and eat a Christmas snack.
16. Enjoy a production of The Nutcracker or another holiday play/performance.
17. Listen to Christmas music and make a Christmas craft for friends.
18. Bake some Christmas Cookies!
19. Learn more about the birth of Jesus at local church.
20. Drive around with hot cocoa and marshmallows, in your pajamas and look at Christmas lights.
21. Read John 3:16 and talk about with your family.
22. Be MERRY and Believe in the MAGIC = Christmas M&Ms!! Eat some holiday M&Ms.
23. Read "The Night Before Christmas".
24. Thank God for our blessings and for Jesus!
25. Talk about giving to others. How does it feel to give gifts?
26. Adopt an Angel, or help those in need - go shopping for them as a family.
27. Surprise, surprise - you get to open a present early! (This can include a Nativity, or a new holiday book)
28. As a family, write the things we love and respect more about each other.
29. Pray for families in need as a family.
30. Decorate a gingerbread house as a family.

These are just some of what I have used, but you can find numerous ideas online by doing a search for "activity advent ideas".

Good luck with your advent for next year! Your children will love it, and the times you will all spend together doing the activities will make this season even more memorable and meaningful.

Growing Up

It's Friday here, and we're getting ready to wrap up the first week of school. Avery has done exceptionally well - like, beyond my expectations well. There were smiles, hugs to her teacher, and making friends all before the school even began on Monday morning. I won't lie: she did say she was nervous and she wanted to hide under the covers upon waking up, BUT...I think this was all just an act for us, because honestly, as soon as she got out of the bed, she was in a happy and excited mood. For the first three days, we walked her in, all the way to her classroom. On Thursday, I reminded her that I'd just be walking her to the front of her building, and that she'd go to class on her own. She was very upset about this. I wavered and told her I might be able to go in just one more last time, to show her exactly where to go. But, we got to the school, began to walk into the lobby, and she said, "Mommy, I don't think you need a parent pass; I can find my class on my own." I told her how to ask a grown-up for help and watched her as she approached the counselor. She asked for help to Mrs. Beasley's room, and off she went! She did so great! This morning, she went inside on her own, happy and cheerful. There has been NO fussing about getting ready, no whining about "school again?", and she has come home each day with a smile on her face and a little bit of talk about her day. I'm so pleased. SO grateful! I hope she will continue to love school. Here's what I know so far: She wants to be friends with a little girl named Allison, because she is so pretty. Allison is in another class, but they see each other in the halls. Allison wears glasses. Avery has a class pet; a turtle named Max. Avery was scared of the street light in the lunchroom, but she has witnessed what happens when it turns red, and now she says that she's only a teeny bit scared, but not really scared like before. Oh, and she appreciates the notes I send in her lunchbox, and asked me if I would do that every single day. Of course I will - I was already planning on it!

On the first day of school, this thought went through my head, "She made this so easy on us" and immediately I remembered saying that to Russ and to our family right after she was born. Her delivery was so incredibly easy, and I remember saying often how she "made it easy on us." My little girl...growing up. I love her so much!!

Adventures Ahead!

How is it possible that it's already the Saturday evening before school starts? I'm dreading tomorrow...my last full day with my girl, who will be starting Kindergarten. Yes, yes, I have been mostly excited about school starting. Seriously ready for my two kiddos to have a little time apart. Ready to have a little quiet. But with Avery gone all day...well, let's just say this: It will be SO. QUIET. I already miss her. I feel the tears coming, and we're still more than 24 hours out. I think I'm in trouble for Monday morning. Must be strong. (Must bring tissues!) She's going to love school. We had our Meet the Teacher night on Thursday, and she did great. She is so confident and friendly; she took a quick tour of the classroom, found the reading area, and settled down on the floor with her (apparently) new favorite book, Pinkalicious. She can't wait to go back to school so that she can spend more time with the story. I'm thankful for that. I'm excited for her. School is such a big deal - such a big step into growing up. I hope she's happy at school. I have so many special and happy memories of my own elementary days. I pray that her experiences will be similar.

We have so many exciting adventures ahead of us, but honestly I'm a bit nervous about it all. Avery starts school on Monday, Nate starts a 2-day preschool program after Labor Day, and it looks as if I'll be working there, too!! I haven't worked in over 3 years! I feel scared. I'm scared about how our life is going to go from slow-moving and easy to fast-paced and busy. I'm a little worried about how we're all going to move through this transition. I know it can be done, and I think all of these new happenings will be good for all of us, but I'm still anxious. I haven't had to get myself and the kids ready and looking nice before 7:30 in, well, maybe forever. I'm sure those mornings when we all have to be somewhere will be...interesting. BUT, once we get our routines into place, maybe it won't seem hard or stressful. It will just be the new way we do things. And luckily, I'll have 3 other days in my week where the pace will still be a bit slower. A little relaxed. I'll try to take time to enjoy those quieter days, to relax when I can, to use the time to my advantage, to shop, to exercise, and spend special time with my boy.

For now, I'm going to make the most of what we have left in this weekend and enjoy my sweet, vivacious, loud, and funny girl.

Boy, oh boy!

Hmmm...so I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to make a note of Nate's ways at the tender age of 2 3/4...only 24 days until he's 3!!

Here goes:

* This boy is precious. Those big blue-grey eyes with his long, dark lashes can seriously work some magic.

* He likes to dress himself, as much as possible. He is VERY decisive about what he does and doesn't want to wear. His favorites shoes right now are his little brown sandals, and he wears them everywhere. He can put them on himself, so this is GREAT! His favorite outfits are his stay-at-home apparel: blue Superman shorts with either his green UNT shirt or his coordinating blue Superman tee. He also has a red pair of shorts that he loves to wear at home. Oh, and he prefers to be "free" under his shorts, if you know what I mean. We only let him do this at home. Finally, on the topic of clothes, he loves to "match" Daddy or Granddad, and he will often comment or ask if he's matching with someone else. SO cute!

* He is day-time potty trained, and on most nights, he stays dry. He was SO easy to teach!!

* We are working on bedtime training now, and I'm hoping he'll get better at staying in his bed soon . I know he can do it, because he did for my Mom - 3 nights in a row!!

* Some funny/sweet things that he says right now: "That just happens sometimes" (when an accident occurs), "Thank you" (he is SO good about saying this for everything!), he calls his hair gel, "jelly". Okay, so there are so many more things, but I can't think of a single one right now. It will come to me, and I'll add later. :)

* He seems really excited about going to preschool, and he was SO happy to pick out a backpack and lunch box. He got Toy Store 3-themed items, and he has carried his lunch box around and filled it with his cars for several days.

* He likes treasure boxes, cars, trains, trucks, Toy Story stuff, his new Buzz Lightyear doll, and the old SpongeBob Squarepants stuffed toy that Jace gave Avery so many years ago. He sleeps with that in his bed. Buddy.

* He will eat just about anything if he is hungry. He is never afraid of trying new foods, and while we were in Galveston, he ate raw oysters at dinner, and hard-boiled eggs at breakfast. He is less picky than I am! If he's not hungry, he may totally ignore his meal so that he can play. He tells us he is "too busy" to eat sometimes.

He still gives great, arms-around-neck-tight-kinds-of-hugs, he gives sweet, tender, intentional kisses. He tells us he loves us. He still likes me to hold him a lot while we're out and about, and he still lets me rock him from time to time, usually at nap. He copies everything that Russ does - he wants to be a "big boy" in every way. He is easy, mellow, and kind. He is also almost 3, so when he gets mad, he looks down, cuts his eyes at us, and crosses his arms. He tries to hit me when he's very angry with me. We're working on this. He is not good at staying in time out. He can scream as loudly and shrilly as Avery can. He's a boy, so he's rough and tumble. He loves band-aids, and his daily vitamin.

I love, love my boy. I never knew how much I would be blessed by having both a boy and a girl. It's so amazing to watch them grow up and to see their differences and similarities. While there are many, many days when I think I cannot do this whole "parenting" thing right (and today has been one of them!), I know deep down that these little ones were meant to be mine, and that my life has been richly blessed and changed by them forever. They teach me about patience, kindness and perseverance, about finding happiness in the little moments. They teach me more about myself.

A few things...

A few things I want to remember about this past week...

I want to remember that Russ went to church with us this Sunday, and how excited both of the kids were to see their Daddy going to church with them. Avery even said as we were walking in, "Mommy, do you know what I was doing with my hands together? I was saying a prayer and thanking God for helping Daddy to come with us today. I know it's something you have been asking God for." She surprises me sometimes with her thoughtful insight. It was a very sweet moment, and I'm so thankful that she has her own relationship with God. I pray that I can support her and provide a good example, so that she will always want to live with God as her Heavenly Father, and so that she will recognize the blessings He provides for us everyday. I pray this for Nate, too; that he will develop his own special relationship with God, and that he will understand how important it is to have His spiritual guidance in his life.

I want to remember how Avery loved the ocean. I want to remember how she ran in as far as we would let her (and then tried to keep going further) so that she could jump the waves. I want to remember her smile and her happiness in those moments.

I want to remember how thoughtfully Nate combed the beach, looking for seashells. He loved walking around and looking for "treasures" along the shore. He and I spent lots of special time together, walking along the beach. We walked out on one of the piers in the evening; it was a beautiful time with my little love.

I want to remember that for the first time in a long time, Russ and I actually got to sleep in a bed together without any kids (at least for a few hours)! And, there's something special about watching your children sleep together...I loved that.

I want to remember how thrilled I felt at seeing the dolphins jump from the water while we rode the ferry. I think those moments are just as exciting for me now as they probably were when I was little.

I want to remember that palm trees make me feel happy!

I want to remember the feeling of the sand between my toes, the waves against my legs, and the joy we had in "getting away" for a few days.

I want to remember how going to Galveston turned out to be a wonderful trip for our family.

As a sidenote, I'm going to try and forget the temper tantrums we had throughout the trip. I mean, after all, it's a LOT of together time for all four of us, and those moments are bound to happen...right? Just keeping it real!

Tales from a "medium-fat" Mommy.

So I've been thinking that there are so many sweet and funny things that the kids are doing lately, that I should write them down. Really, I won't remember anything that isn't written down - I have a terrible memory and someday, I will cherish each of these little details about my babies.

Avery is 5 1/2. Talking to her is like having a conversation with an adult. I know a lot of people say that, but it really is true about her. Even my friends have mentioned this about her before. She has a very grown-up vocabulary and she asks really smart questions. I wish I could think of an example...maybe one will come to me soon. Oh, she did ask me a few weeks ago if Beth from Little Women could be resurrected. And she knew exactly what that meant. She is such a reader...she spends a good majority of her days with her books. At this point, I've never heard her sound out words. She just "knows" them. It's weird. It's as if she's seen and heard them so often, that she can just read the whole word without having to see each letter that makes it up. She can even read some cursive, which also suprises me. She's amazing, and I love that at this point, she is so interested in so many topics. I'm so thankful to Russ and to his Dad for teaching her about Science and History; to give to her a love of nature and animals. Those are areas where I have little knowledge, but I love, LOVE that they are sharing that with her. She (still) doesn't like coloring, but she enjoys dot-to-dots, mazes, watercolors and other crafty adventures. She still uses the words, "boyly" and I caught her saying "clo" for clothes the other day. This is something I hadn't heard her say in awhile. She uses it when she gets confused about the singular and plural ways of using that word. (I hope that makes sense.) So, she'll say something like, "Can I take this clo off?" Funny girl. In other news, she thinks she has a crush on an 11-year old boy named Samuel Westbrook from our church. She saw him in our summer music camp production, and I think she fell for his acting skills and his bright red hair. It was love at first sight; she started sharing her Tootsie Rolls with him at the cast party. Ha. She talks about him every Sunday and tells me that she hopes to see him after class. She enjoys spending lots of time on the computer with her Dora Links Doll and also on sites like PBS kids and NickJr. Her favorite t.v. shows are Arthur, WordGirl, Berenstain Bears, and the game show, Wipeout. She doesn't like playing real games that might cause her to be "out". If that is the case, she'll choose to sit out instead. She also doesn't like anything timed. If she has time limits, she freaks out. Not because she can't actually do it in the time needed, but the fear of the timer going off is enough to keep her from playing or participating. She is afraid of balloons popping and the 4th of July fireworks was a real test of her coping skills. After about 10 minutes of holding her ears, she did finally let go and was able to enjoy the show. She is still a VERY picky eater, and we're going to start enforcing some new rules regarding that. Basically, she'll have to eat 5 bites of dinner, and after that she can either continue to eat what we do, OR she can have a piece of bread. Sounds mean, but we're tired of catering to her very limited palate. The only meals that she will willingly eat are PB&J, Chick-fil-A, or cereal. Everything else is a fight, although at times she can be convinced to eat vegetables, ham or turkey roll-ups, mac and cheese. Ugh. So ready for this very picky phase to be done with. Taking her anywhere to eat can be challenging. She loves her brother, but alternately, despises him. She can't stand when he gets something "first", and they are forever bickering about who touched who, who took whose things, and whose turn it is to do such-and-such. Hmmm...did I use the word, "whose" correctly? I'm not sure...whatever. You get the idea, though. She still loves to sing, and I love that. I think she and I should be the next Naomi and Wynona. :) I feel that there are so many more things to share, but my eyes are getting tired, so I'll be back later this week with the final touches about Aves and a post about Nate and all of this sweet and silly behaviors!

Brimming with Ideas!

I have recently become addicted to reading blogs which are primarily focused with decorating on a budget. I have searched, pored over, and re-read so many articles that I am now brimming with ideas!! I can hardly stop thinking about how I can update my home. I want pictures up, I want decorations on the walls, I want to make wreaths, and no-sew curtains!! I am inspired, people!

In the past week, I have spray painted two ugly copper frames and made them into simple black frames. I have spray painted a gold monogram letter from Hobby Lobby. (Why do they make them gold? Really, does anyone want that? Still, it was an opportunity for spray paint, and I am finding that that is SO much fun!) As I speak, there is an old table in my garage that I have sanded and painted. Just waiting for that first coat to dry. So, what used to be our very first tiny kitchen table, is now going to become an entryway table with decor. I can hardly wait! It won't be perfect, because it's a little big, but I still think it will work and look great in the space.

I can't believe how much excitement I have for decorating our home right now. We have no money to budget for this, but I still have the itch to create and make our home beautiful. I'll be hosting a birthday party at the beginning of September, so with that in mind, I've created a task list.

To Decorate before Party:

Decorate mantle with candles, topiaries, etc. and frame family portrait over the mantle.
Finish entryway table.
Decorate entry with monogram, wreath and some silhouette pictures that I plan to make.

None of this is too extensive, so I think I should have more than enough time to get it all done. I'm hoping to do all this for very little money, and by using my gift cards to Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I'll be adding some pictures soon!

What Feels Like a One-Woman Show

I've been feeling a little frustrated lately, and I'm not sure how to solve the problem. The thing is, my kids love me and Russ (of course they do, we're their parents!) But the problem is that whenever my kids need ANYTHING...a glass of milk, help on the computer, a trip to the potty, bath or bedtime, they want me over anyone else. (Now, I will say, that without a doubt, they prefer Daddy for playtime. He is MUCH better at playing with them than I am, thank goodness!) Still, after a long day of being home with the kids myself and tending to their every-single-must-have-this-moment need, I am ready for some help when Russ gets home. And the thing is, he's ready to help, too. But the kids seem to forget that Daddy can do all of the things I can do. They forget that he's more fun at bathtime, and that he doles out more chocolate milk at bedtime than I do. They just want me. And it's exhausting. And in the middle of the night, when the only person who can console them is me, it's frustrating. I feel frustrated at the kids and frustrated at Russ, and I don't even think it's anyone's fault. It's just the way it is...but I can't help wishing it were different.

Goodbye to Preschool

Avery had her Pre-K graduation last Thursday (on my 31st birthday). I was very excited for her, and yet a little sad that this was IT. She is about to be in Kindergarten!! Anyhow, their program was very sweet, with lots of songs that she had been working on. I didn't get very many good pictures, but I'll try to share what I have. I've got to learn how to add pictures to these posts...haven't done that yet. This past Monday, her school had their Spring Program, which included all ages from toddlers to the Pre-K classes. It was so adorable to see those teeny little ones singing up on stage. And when a slide show of their year at school came up, it made me realize just how quickly my own children are growing up. I have heard somewhere that the days are long, but the years are short, and my, how that is true. I often find myself wishing that the kids were more independent, or more grown up, or just that bedtime would HURRY UP AND GET HERE! And then I take a step back and realize that it's moving all too fast. So, Avery's Spring Program was a much more sentimental moment for me than the graduation. I'm not sure why - maybe because it was the very last program, or more likely, because I was reminded by seeing the little ones how big my own two are becoming. But, the show must go on and I am so looking forward to what adventures will take place in Kindergarten for Aves. And happily, Nate will begin his preschool journey this fall. I can't wait for that; he's going to love it!

Finally, because I have LOVED Avery's teachers, I wanted to do something special for them as the school-year comes to a close. A few weeks ago, I went up to their classroom and "borrowed" each of their students for a few minutes. With their insight and help, I created a mini-album for each teacher. The albums turned out SO cute, and I just have to share some pictures. It really makes me happy to work on albums that I'm giving away as gifts. I hope the albums will remind Avery's teachers what an important and wonderful job it is that they do.

p.s. Well, the pictures are up, but not in the order I had hoped for. I'll work on that next time! :)

Fleeting

Since December, I have been touched by the premature deaths of 4 people. These people were friends of friends, people I never even really knew until after the fact. But I heard about, read about, and prayed about each one. Each situation was different - there were two car accidents, cancer, and a very, very serious case of pneumonia. Each person was known to be a strong Christian, created to be unique and special, and they were all parents of young children. I suppose it is this that makes each of their stories hurt my heart so much.

As the mother of young children, one of my worst fears is that something will happen to me before Avery and Nate are grown. I feel their need for me is so great, and I worry about the little things: who would make sure that Avery's hair is brushed every day, and who would teach Nate to sleep in his own bed, and who would teach my children about God's love for them? I know they would eventually recover and thrive. I know that Russ would take over all of the "Mommy jobs" and would find a way to do them that suited the kid's needs. Still...the thought scares me. I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to see my kids grow up, to be a part of their daily lives, to try and impart as much wisdom and love as I possibly can until they won't listen anymore.

The four people who lost their lives will not be forgotten, and their families are in my prayers. Their deaths remind me of how fleeting life really is. We are not promised another day, and so it's up to us (me) to live life to the fullest. My prayer is that I won't forget how precious life is, and to be grateful for each blessed day.

Thankful

Thankful for...
my sleeping little boy, who is starting to understand the basics of potty training
my Mom, who got the kids some much-needed spring clothes
my sister, who took Avery for a mini-weekend get-away
my in-laws, who give so much of their time to my babies
my husband, for making me feel loved and beautiful

Just another Manic Monday...

So...today was one of those kinds of days.

6:10 a.m.: I woke up to a damp spot near me in the bed. (Thank you very much Nate & Pampers.) This is the 4th time in less than a week that I've had to wash the sheets!! Our co-sleeping days are definitely numbered, I think. But first, potty training. That was the task I wanted to take on this week. I feel like Nate is ready and I'd like to really work with him now, so that hopefully he'll "have it" before he starts pre-k in the fall. We've been talking about it and reading books about it for the past few weeks and today was the day we were set to start. And so we did. With Aves, I put her in underwear and we tried to potty every 30 minutes for several days until she started to understand. I tried a more relaxed version of that with Nate today, and we did not have one successful moment on the potty today. So, tomorrow I think I'm going to be a bit more structured. And patient. And encouraging. I'm praying for all of these qualities, so that I can be the kind of mommy I need to be during this not-so-fun phase of learning.

7:30 a.m.: Getting ready to make Avery's lunch for school, and I open the refrigerator. Big mistake. Apparently our compressor didn't like that, because all kinds of noises started coming from its direction. After some investigation and research on Russ's part, we determined that the best (but most costly) solution was to purchase a new fridge. Argh....this day is not going the way either of us intended.

8:45 a.m.: Avery is car-pooling with my awesome and patient friend, Jill S. She is so good to put up with Avery's dramatics about going to school, each. and. every. school. day.

10:00 a.m.: Headed to Home Depot with the boys. Refrigerators are more costly than we (read: Russ) had expected. Now to Best Buy to look over their selection. Nate falls asleep on the way over there, despite the fact that we stopped to get snacks and drinks for him.

10:45 a.m.: Back to Home Depot to purchase a fridge. Nate is still sleeping, and we reluctantly say good-bye to any chance of a real naptime for our boy.

I'm not really sure what happened between here and picking up Aves, but I know we were busy. Lots and lots of laundry, lunch, and moving the old, noisy fridge out to the garage. What happened to appliances that are supposed to last for 20 years?!?

2:15 p.m.: Arrive home with Avery. Get everyone ready for some time at the park and off we go. Avery rides her bike, but is fussing before we even get started. I think it had something to do with her helmet. Arrive at the park and continued fussing, but now it's because Nate gets to play with the frisbee more than she does. (What was I thinking to buy only one? I must be insane!) More fussing as we get to the playground and Avery is made to swing on her own, while Nate gets pushed by Daddy in the toddler-swing. Argh....

Really, after that, the day gets rather boring. Or maybe you thought the other stuff was boring, but for us it was all about being out of our routines, chaos and stress. Lovely day, really. On the bright side, which I really do keep trying to see, Russ got to spend the day at home with us. We had family time at the park. And we are blessed enough to be able to purchase a new fridge when our old one goes out. I know we are lucky.

Tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully we'll get back into more of our normal routine. Hoping for a more peaceful and productive day, especially when it comes to the potty training side of things!!

Weekend Away

Ahh...I had a lovely, wonderful weekend away with some of my favorite girls. I met up with my Sissy (sister-in-law), friend Lisa, and new friend Chrissy. We met at the Rockin R' in Temple, TX for some scrapbooking. We had a great time, laughing, talking and working on our albums. I think out of everyone, I got the fewest pages done, but I'm okay with that; I'm a slow worker. Plus, I did a lot of great journaling. I feel very satisfied with my new style of scrapbooking...creating layouts based solely on the pictures or stories that I am inspired to tell, and allowing the other pictures to be put in a photo-style album right next to my hand-crafted pages. I love it! So freeing, because I don't feel as if I have to scrap EVERY.SINGLE.PICTURE!!

So, great weekend, but I was ready to get home. It's normally a 2-hour trip, but for whatever reason, traffic was a nightmare and it took me 3 hours to get home! I was so happy to walk in and have Nate say, "I find you!" and give me the longest, biggest hug. Shortly after, Aves joined in for a big group hug. I had missed my babies! It's so funny how eager I was to get away and to have time to myself. Yet the entire time I was gone, I was focused on my family and missing the kids. It didn't take too long to remember why I needed the get-away, though. Nate was tired and fussy; Aves was so very needy of my time. Groceries had to be bought, the kitchen had to be cleaned and even the sheets on my bed had to be washed and dried before we could get to sleep that night. Argh...I can't complain though. I love my family and I'm so thankful that I was able to get away while Russ and the kids had fun together. I am so blessed!!

Ladybugs

So, today was a typical day around here. Nate was up early, as usual, and Aves got up shortly afterwards. Fortunately for me, Russ let me sleep in until 7! Wonderful! Now, you would think that with as early as my kids get up, that we'd be fed, dressed and ready to go early as well, but that is never the case. I think I just move really slow in the mornings. Anyhow, we did finally get ready for the day and left for the gym around 9:30. Afterwards, we came home, had lunch (PB&J for the kids, of course) and played a bit in a homemade tent before we finally settled down for some quiet time. Nate and I took a nap while Aves watched a movie. We woke up at 3:30, and because it was so pretty outside, I decided to take the kids to the park. We were gone for over an hour and had a nice walk. The kids take such pleasure in all of the little things. Beautiful flowers (read: weeds), throwing leaves and pebbles into the stream below, and finding ladybugs in the grass. Yes, the highlight of our trip today was seeing and playing with 3 ladybugs. The first one we found let us play with him for a good, long time. Avery loved having it crawl up and around her fingers. She was extemely upset when Nate quickly swatted at it, and for a moment, we thought he was a goner. However, he started to crawl again and all was right with the world. We played with him for a little longer and he showed us his wings. He then begin to use Avery's fingers as a springboard for his flying. He would climb up, and then attempt to fly. He finally flew off so far that we could no longer find him. Avery was thrilled that she'd been able to "teach the ladybug how to fly". Afterwards, we were lucky enough to see 2 more, but they weren't as patient with us, and they quickly flew away. Still, we had fun. It must be so wonderful to see nature through a child's eyes. And how lucky I feel to watch them as they enjoy such simple joys!

Welcome!

If you're reading this, welcome! I hope you'll enjoy. I can't promise to be interesting or entertaining, but I can promise that you'll get a glimpse into everyday life here at the LeBaron house. My goal with this blog is for me to keep a journal of events and goings-on with my family. I want to remember the small details and stories of us. Isn't that the most important thing? I often think of topics I'd like to cover in my scrapbooks, but because I don't have a picture or the time, the ideas never get put down. I'm hoping this will be that place for me; a place to journal and write about the people in my life who I love and cherish. A place for me to write about myself, because if I don't make a record of my life, no one else will, either. So...this is what I love "In My Life".